A comparison of registration techniques for computer- and image-assisted elbow surgery.
Optimal function following elbow replacement surgery is dependent on the accurate replication of the elbow's flexion-extension axis. Currently, position and orientation of the axis are estimated from visual landmarks. In order to develop computer-assisted techniques to more accurately define this axis, a surface-based registration technique employing a hand-held laser scanner was evaluated against a conventional paired-point registration method to determine whether it produced improved alignment of the flexion-extension axis of the elbow. Registration error was 0.8 +/- 0.3 mm for surface-based registration, compared with 1.9 +/- 1.0 mm for the conventional registration method. These results suggest that the implementation of a surface-based registration technique may lead to a more accurate axis determination and improved clinical outcomes following elbow replacement surgery.
McDonald
Colin P
CP
Bioengineering Research Laboratory, The Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St. Joseph's Health Care, London, Ontario.
Brownhill
James R
JR
King
Graham J W
GJ
Johnson
James A
JA
Peters
Terry M
TM
D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000379:methods*; D002102:Cadaver; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*