Combining 3D Structured Light Imaging and Spine X-ray Data Improves Visualization of the Spinous Lines in the Scoliotic Spine

Abstract

Scoliosis is a three-dimensional trunk and spinal deformity. Patient evaluation is essential for the decision-making process and determines the selection of specific and adequate treatment. The diagnosis requires a radiological evaluation that exposes patients to radiation. This exposure reaches hazardous levels when numerous, repetitive radiographic studies are required for diagnostics, monitoring, and treatment. Technological improvements in radiographic devices have significantly reduced radiation exposure, but the risk for patients remains. Optical three-dimensional surface topography (3D ST) measurement systems that use surface topography (ST) to screen, diagnose, and monitor scoliosis are safer alternatives to radiography. The study aimed to show that the combination of plain X-ray and 3D ST scans allows for an approximate presentation of the vertebral column spinous processes line in space to determine the shape of the spine’s deformity in scoliosis patients. Twelve patients diagnosed with scoliosis, aged 13.1 ± 4.5 years (range: 9 to 20 years) (mean: Cobb angle 17.8°, SD: ±9.5°) were enrolled in the study. Patients were diagnosed using full-spine X-ray and whole torso 3D ST. The novel three-dimensional assessment of the spinous process lines by merging 3D ST and X-ray data in patients with scoliosis was implemented. The method’s expected uncertainty is less than 5 mm, which is better than the norm for a standard measurement tool. The presented accuracy level is considered adequate; the proposed solution is accurate enough to monitor the changes in the shape of scoliosis’s spinous processes line. The proposed method allows for a relatively precise calculation of the spinous process lines based on a three-dimensional point cloud obtained with a four-directional, three-dimensional structured light diagnostic system and a single X-ray image. The method may help reduce patients’ total radiation exposure and avoid one X-ray in the sagittal projection if biplanar radiograms are required for reconstructing the three-dimensional line of the spinous processes line.

Method for Parametric Evaluation of 3-D Surface Imaging Systems for Applications With Moving Objects

“…This design allows steps in both directions, the left and right steps in the X-direction and the middle steps in the Y-direction. The step heights of the right (𝑠 𝑖r ), left (𝑠 𝑖l ), and middle (𝑠 𝑖m ) steps, as well as the last middle (𝑠 ηm ) step are determined by equations ( 1)- (3).…”

Extrinsic Calibration for a Modular 3D Scanning Quality Validation Platform with a 3D Checkerboard

“…Optical 3D scanning is widely used in medical applications [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ], and scanning systems that track patient movement in 3D are becoming ubiquitous. Some of these can capture the human upper body, in particular the human back, in various postures and movements such as standing upright, bending forward, and bending sideways.…”

Real-Time Back Surface Landmark Determination Using a Time-of-Flight Camera

“…One well-known approach involves the use of single photographs to carry out photogrammetric measurements [ 15 ]. Techniques to obtain additional depth information include structured light imaging [ 18 , 19 ], 3D scanners, multi-camera systems, and depth cameras, including the Kinect system [ 20 ].…”