Comparison of 3D Bone Position Estimation Using QR Code and Metal Bead Markers.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Accurate 3D bone position estimation is crucial for surgical planning and intraoperative guidance.
• Traditional metal bead markers have limitations in tracking accuracy, particularly in dynamic scenarios.
• Developing novel marker systems is essential to improve the precision of 3D image reconstruction from fluoroscopic data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of a novel Quick Response (QR) code marker system for 3D bone position estimation.
• To compare the accuracy of QR code markers against conventional metal bead markers in a fluoroscopic imaging system.
• To assess the efficacy of QR code tracking for real-time comparison of 3D and fluoroscopic images.

Main Methods:

• Developed modified markers utilizing Quick Response (QR) codes for 3D bone position estimation.
• Estimated bone positions by comparing reference points between fluoroscopic and 3D images.
• Quantified positional differences using an error ratio: (fluoroscopic measurement - 3D measurement) / fluoroscopic measurement.

Main Results:

• QR code markers demonstrated error ratios of 5.0 ± 2.0% (AP), 6.4 ± 7.6% (ulnar lateral), and 1.0 ± 0.8% (PA).
• Metal bead markers showed error ratios of 1.3 ± 1.7% (AP), 13.8 ± 14.5% (ulnar lateral), and 4.7 ± 5.7% (PA).
• QR code markers exhibited significantly smaller error ratios in lateral and posterior-anterior views (p < 0.05), and successful tracking with discontinuous images.

Conclusions:

• The QR code marker system significantly increases the accuracy of 3D bone position estimation compared to metal bead markers in specific views.
• QR code tracking's robustness with discontinuous images enhances its utility in dynamic surgical environments.
• This system facilitates improved real-time comparisons between preoperative 3D models and intraoperative fluoroscopic imaging.