title: Methods and applications of three-dimensional imaging in orthopedics.
abstract: Computed tomography is a commonly used technique for detecting pathological alterations in soft tissues and the skeleton. Three-dimensional images of the skeleton are very useful for planning surgical treatment and monitoring therapy, but unfortunately mental reconstruction of complex three-dimensional anatomical structures from conventional tomography is very difficult. This article describes a process by which automated analysis of the regions of interest in the computed tomographic (CT) images yields the contours of the surfaces which can be presented pseudo-three-dimensionally using Phong's lighting model and Gouraud's shading methods. Three applications in the areas of orthopedics and neurosurgery demonstrate the efficacy of the method.
authors.affiliation: GSF-Institut für Medizinische Informatik und Systemforschung, Neuherberg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Englmeier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wieber
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Milachowski
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hamburger
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mittlmeier
mesh_terms: D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008961:Models, Structural; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation*