The use of three-dimensional computer display in the study of disk disease

We have developed a software system for three-dimensional dynamic display of organs from computed tomograms (CT). We are now beginning to evaluate the clinical usefulness of this software system. We have chosen the spine in general, and disk disease in particular, as the first step in this evaluation. The choice was to a large extent influenced by our belief that surgical planning can be improved if three-dimensional displays of the diseased disk and its surroundings are available. Patients who have been referred to us for CT evaluation were examined in the routine manner. In those cases in which the ordinary CT scans indicated potential usefulness, the softwar system was applied, and movies were produced showing the appearance of appropriate parts of the spine as if they were rotating in front of the user. It appears that the size and relative location of disk herniations are well represented by such displays. Proof of efficacy in surgical planning awaits a more thorough evaluation, but our initial study indicates that the method has great promise.