Reinforcing the role of the conventional C-arm - a novel method for simplified distal interlocking

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

R Geoff Richards³  Meir Liebergall¹  Benno Dicht²  Ladina Fliri²  Josh Schroeder¹  Markus Windolf² 

[1] Orthopedic department Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel;AO Research Institute Davos, Clavadelerstrasse 8, 7270 Davos, Switzerland;Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Wales, UK

关键词: Computer aided surgery;    Free-hand locking;    Nailing;    Distal targeting;    Distal interlocking;   

Others  :  1150720
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2474-13-8

 received in 2011-08-10, accepted in 2012-01-25,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

The common practice for insertion of distal locking screws of intramedullary nails is a freehand technique under fluoroscopic control. The process is technically demanding, time-consuming and afflicted to considerable radiation exposure of the patient and the surgical personnel. A new concept is introduced utilizing information from within conventional radiographic images to help accurately guide the surgeon to place the interlocking bolt into the interlocking hole. The newly developed technique was compared to conventional freehand in an operating room (OR) like setting on human cadaveric lower legs in terms of operating time and radiation exposure.

Methods

The proposed concept (guided freehand), generally based on the freehand gold standard, additionally guides the surgeon by means of visible landmarks projected into the C-arm image. A computer program plans the correct drilling trajectory by processing the lens-shaped hole projections of the interlocking holes from a single image. Holes can be drilled by visually aligning the drill to the planned trajectory. Besides a conventional C-arm, no additional tracking or navigation equipment is required.

Ten fresh frozen human below-knee specimens were instrumented with an Expert Tibial Nail (Synthes GmbH, Switzerland). The implants were distally locked by performing the newly proposed technique as well as the conventional freehand technique on each specimen. An orthopedic resident surgeon inserted four distal screws per procedure. Operating time, number of images and radiation time were recorded and statistically compared between interlocking techniques using non-parametric tests.

Results

A 58% reduction in number of taken images per screw was found for the guided freehand technique (7.4 ± 3.4) (mean ± SD) compared to the freehand technique (17.6 ± 10.3) (p < 0.001). Total radiation time (all 4 screws) was 55% lower for the guided freehand technique compared to conventional freehand (p = 0.001). Operating time per screw (from first shot to screw tightened) was on average 22% reduced by guided freehand (p = 0.018).

Conclusions

In an experimental setting, the newly developed guided freehand technique for distal interlocking has proven to markedly reduce radiation exposure when compared to the conventional freehand technique. The method utilizes established clinical workflows and does not require cost intensive add-on devices or extensive training. The underlying principle carries potential to assist implant positioning in numerous other applications within orthopedics and trauma from screw insertions to placement of plates, nails or prostheses.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Windolf et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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