[Study on the three-dimensional reconstruction and visualization of the anatomical structures of the anterior approach to the upper thoracic spine].
OBJECTIVE
To establish the three-dimensional (3D) visible models of the anatomical structures of the anterior approach to the upper thoracic spine (UTS) for anatomic study and preoperative planning of the UTS.


METHODS
Sectional images from the superior margin of the first thoracic vertebral body to the inferior margin of the fifth thoracic vertebral body were acquired through the Chinese Visible Human Female (VCHF) database which was collected by the Third Military Medical University. These images were imported into Photoshop CS, cut automatically and converted into a JPEG format. Surface and volume reconstruction were performed by 3D Doctor 3.5 and Amira 4.0 software programs on an ordinary personal computer respectively.


RESULTS
The surface reconstruction model could be rotated at any angle and observed from any direction. And the reconstructed structures of the anterior approach to the UTS could be displayed individually or as a composite with any other selected structure. The volume reconstruction displayed abundant internal details of the reconstructed images in transverse, coronal, sagittal, and random oblique sections.


CONCLUSIONS
Three-dimensional visible models of the anatomical structures of the anterior approach to the UTS based on the sectional images of VCHF can clearly display the morphology, spatial orientation and adjacent relationship of every structure. These models are very helpful to the anatomy study and preoperative planning of this complex anatomic region.
Huang
Yi-Xing
YX
Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China. sunnyknight@126.com
Jin
Lian-Zhou
LZ
Chi
Yong-Long
YL
Zhang
Hua-Zhen
HZ
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*