title: Approximation of a foreign object using x-rays, reference photographs and 3D reconstruction techniques.
abstract: This case study describes how a 3D animation was created to approximate the depth and angle of a foreign object (metal bar) that had become embedded into a patient's head. A pre-operative CT scan was not available as the patient could not fit though the CT scanner, therefore a post surgical CT scan, x-ray and photographic images were used. A surface render was made of the skull and imported into Blender (a 3D animation application). The metal bar was not available, however images of a similar object that was retrieved from the scene by the ambulance crew were used to recreate a 3D model. The x-ray images were then imported into Blender and used as background images in order to align the skull reconstruction and metal bar at the correct depth/angle. A 3D animation was then created to fully illustrate the angle and depth of the iron bar in the skull.
authors.affiliation: Senior Medical Graphic Artist, Medical Illustration, Royal Preston Hospital , Fulwood, Preston, PR2 9HT , UK . E-mail: matthew.briggs@lthtr.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: Mohan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shanmugam
mesh_terms: D003196:Computer Graphics; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed