VirSSPA- a virtual reality tool for surgical planning workflow.
OBJECTIVE
A virtual reality tool, called VirSSPA, was developed to optimize the planning of surgical processes.


METHODS
Segmentation algorithms for Computed Tomography (CT) images: a region growing procedure was used for soft tissues and a thresholding algorithm was implemented to segment bones. The algorithms operate semiautomati- cally since they only need seed selection with the mouse on each tissue segmented by the user. The novelty of the paper is the adaptation of an enhancement method based on histogram thresholding applied to CT images for surgical planning, which simplifies subsequent segmentation. A substantial improvement of the virtual reality tool VirSSPA was obtained with these algorithms.


RESULTS
VirSSPA was used to optimize surgical planning, to decrease the time spent on surgical planning and to improve operative results. The success rate increases due to surgeons being able to see the exact extent of the patient's ailment. This tool can decrease operating room time, thus resulting in reduced costs.


CONCLUSIONS
Virtual simulation was effective for optimizing surgical planning, which could, consequently, result in improved outcomes with reduced costs.
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Grupo de Prospección y Desarrollo Tecnológico, Hospitales Universitarios Virgen del Rocío de Sevilla, Avda Manuel Siurot, s/n, 41013, Sevilla, Spain. cristina.suarez.exts@juntadeandalucia.es
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D000465:Algorithms; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014584:User-Computer Interface