Comparison of Three 3D Segmentation Software Tools for Hip Surgical Planning

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Medical Imaging Analysis
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Preoperative planning is crucial for successful hip arthroplasty.
• Existing computed tomography (CT) software for surgical planning lacks comparative studies, especially for osteoarthritic or osteoporotic hip conditions.
• Accurate 3D modeling of pathological femoral heads is essential for patient-specific surgical approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare three software tools (Syngo.via Frontier, Materialise Mimics, and 3D Slicer) for 3D reconstruction of pathological femoral heads.
• To evaluate these tools based on geometric accuracy, dimensional precision, and usability.
• To identify the optimal software for preoperative planning in hip arthroplasty involving complex pathologies.

Main Methods:

• Reconstruction of 3D models of pathological femoral heads from in vivo CT scans using Syngo.via Frontier, Materialise Mimics, and 3D Slicer.
• Comparison of reconstructed 3D models against in vitro laser scan data of bony specimens.
• Evaluation of software performance based on geometric, dimensional accuracy, and user-friendliness.

Main Results:

• Materialise Mimics and 3D Slicer demonstrated superior dimensional and geometric accuracy in 3D reconstructions.
• Syngo.via Frontier was identified as the most user-friendly software for clinical settings.
• The study provides quantitative data on the performance of different 3D modeling tools for hip surgery planning.

Conclusions:

• Materialise Mimics and 3D Slicer are recommended for achieving high-fidelity 3D reconstructions of pathological femoral heads in hip arthroplasty planning.
• Syngo.via Frontier offers a practical, user-friendly option for rapid prototyping in a hospital environment.
• Further research could explore integration of these tools into surgical workflows to enhance patient outcomes.