A comparison of registration techniques for computer- and image-assisted elbow surgery

• Published in: Computer aided surgery (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. 208 - 214
• Main Authors: McDonald, Colin P, Brownhill, James R, King, Graham J W, Johnson, James A, Peters, Terry M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.07.2007
• Subjects: Arthroplasty, Replacement - methods; Cadaver; Elbow Joint - surgery; Humans; Lasers; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Reproducibility of Results; Surgery, Computer-Assisted - methods
• ISSN: 1092-9088
• DOI: 10.1080/10929080701517459

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.