title: Pilot study of total knee arthroplasty planning by use of 3-D ultrasound image volumes.
abstract: The incidence of Total Knee Arthroplasties (TKA) is increasing. The main problem is the correct placement of especially the femoral prosthesis. Pre-operative planning and intra-operative realization relies on lower limb X-rays and extra- or intramedullary devices. This may lead to implant displacements. We generated virtual models of the distal femur for 10 knee joints. In a free-hand sweep we recorded 3-D US image volumes, which typically took 90 sec. The bony structures were detected automatically in the US-images and then appeared as curvilinear lines. Spatially arranged these lines formed femur models, which were used for the placement of a femoral prosthesis in an interactive computer-based 3-D planning. The automatic image segmentation took about 45 minutes. Its analysis showed correct detection of the bone surface. The interactive planning took 5-10 minutes. The investigation demonstrates that 3-D US can provide data of position and size of bony structures. Bone models created by analysis of 3-D US image volumes are useable for simulation of TKA implantations.
authors.affiliation: Medical School Hannover, Orthopaedic Dept., Heimchenstrasse 1-7, 30165 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Macher
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liebing
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lazovic
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Overhoff
mesh_terms: D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014584:User-Computer Interface