Abstract. In this paper, we present study to integrate virtual fracture bone reduction simulation tool with a novel hybrid 3-DOF-RPS external fixator to relocate back bone fragments into their anatomically original position. A 3D model of fractured bone was reconstructed and manipulated using 3D design and modeling software, PhysiGuide. The virtual reduction system was applied to reduce a bilateral femoral shaft fracture type 32-A3. Measurement data from fracture reduction and fixation stages were implemented to manipulate the manipulator pose in patient's clinical case. The experimental result presents that by merging both of those techniques will give more possibilities to reduce virtual bone reduction time, improve facial and shortest healing treatment.
IntroductionUtilization the computer-assisted or robotic surgery technology for enhancing orthopedic procedure is still not mature yet. It needs more evident for patients and surgeons to improve the uncertainty and make them sure that those of assisted-technology can provide accurate, predictable and safe treatment. At least two decades research in Computer-Aided Orthopaedic Surgery (CAOS) and Orthopaedic Robotics (CAOR) have happened in design and development level but only a few of them are presently being allowed for clinical trials. In orthopedic clinical practice, complicated bone deformities treatment and unreduced fractures are always problematic issues. In this study, the combination of virtual fracture reduction with a robotic-assisted reduction is proposed to solve those problems. Currently, we have built an integrated preoperative simulation system for orthopedic surgery and have been used as preoperative planning tool for a surgeon to solve clinical cases of bone fracture reduction and implant placement. The system is operated in a PC based environment that integrates the virtual surgery tools in single computer program package, making it easy to implement in clinical applications [1][2]. The aims of our research to study integration of computer-assisted fracture reduction and robotic system. Even though computerassisted fracture reduction have been developed by several researchers with different level of accuracies, we explore beneficity merging both of cutting-edge-technology. A 3D model of fractured bone is generate directly from a stacks of CT images, segmented in multi region, and virtually reduce and stabilize. A computer-integrated orthopedic system, called FRACAS, was develop for deal with long bone fractures. It replace to use fluoroscopic images to virtual reality display of 3D bone models [3]. A 3D visualization tool was developed to generate a realistic model of the bone-fixator system. The visualization tool has improved the current software to provide a realistic depiction of the treatment procedure [4]. Integrating surgeon instructed, image-guided and robot-assisted applied to reposition long bone fracture. A robotic solution exists to solve the problems of manipulating and reducing long bone