Analysis of Musculoskeletal Surgery

Abstract

Computer-aided (or -assisted) surgery (CAS) utilizing robotic- or image-guided technologies has been introduced into various orthopedic fields. Navigation and robotic systems are the most advanced parts of CAS, and their range of functions and applications is increasing. To study surgical procedures of the bone and joint system and to develop novel robotic CAS systems, this project team started research on orthopaedic procedures in 1999. Surgical navigation is a visualization system that gives positional information about surgical tools or implants relative to a target organ (bone) on a computer display. We have developed a CT-based navigation system for spine, hip, and knee surgery. We have also developed a laser guidance system which presents navigational information directly into the surgical field. To overcome the inaccuracy of hand-controlled positioning of surgical tools, a needle insertion robot has been developed for vertebroplasty. For safe and smooth manipulation of a fracture of the lower extremity, a robot to hold the leg and to reduce the fracture under fluoronavigation has been developed. For preoperative and postoperative evaluation and the patients' function, a 4-dimensional motion analysis has been developed. In this article, we explain these systems and future direction of our research.