Software for use with deformity correction
A method of generating a correction plan for correcting a deformed bone includes inputting to a computer system a first image of the deformed bone in a first plane and inputting to the computer system a second image of the deformed bone in a second plane. Image processing techniques are employed to identify a plurality of anatomical landmarks of the deformed bone in the first image. The first image of the deformed bone is displayed on a display device. A graphical of the deformed bone is autonomously generated and graphically overlaid on the first image of the deformed bone on the display device, the graphical template including a plurality of lines, each line connected at each end to a landmark point corresponding to one of the anatomical landmarks. A model of the deformed bone may be autonomously generated based on the graphical template.
1. A method of generating a correction plan for correcting a deformed bone comprising the steps of:
inputting to a computer system a first image of the deformed bone in a first plane, the deformed bone including a proximal fragment and a distal fragment;
displaying the first image on a display device;
generating a first line overlying the proximal fragment in the first image on the display device, the first line representing an anatomical axis of the proximal fragment;
generating a second line overlying the distal fragment in the first image on the display device, the second line representing an anatomical axis of the distal fragment;
displaying a model proximal fixation ring overlying the proximal fragment in the first image on the display device;
changing a position of the model proximal fixation ring with respect to the proximal fragment in the first image;
displaying a model distal fixation ring overlying the distal fragment in the first image on the display device;
changing a position of the model distal fixation ring with respect to the distal fragment in the first image;
inputting to the computer system a length and angle of each of a plurality of struts, each of the plurality of struts for coupling a physical proximal fixation ring represented by the model proximal fixation ring to a physical distal fixation ring represented by the model distal fixation ring;
displaying a model bone corresponding to the deformed bone on the display device while the model proximal fixation ring is displayed on the display device; and
generating the correction plan based at least on a position of the first line, a position of the second line, the changed position of the model proximal fixation ring, the changed position of the model distal fixation ring, and the length and angle of each of the plurality of struts.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first image includes a physical external fixation system coupled to the deformed bone, the physical external fixation ring including the physical proximal fixation ring and the physical distal fixation ring.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inputting to the computer system a second image of the deformed bone in second plane, and displaying the second image on the display device.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first image of the deformed bone is an x-ray image displayed on the display device in one of an anterior-posterior and a lateral view.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second image of the deformed bone is an x-ray image displayed on the display device in the other of an anterior-posterior and a lateral view.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps of changing the position of the model proximal fixation ring with respect to the proximal fragment in the first image and changing the position of the model distal fixation ring with respect to the distal fragment in the first image are performed graphically on the display device.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inputting to the computer system a first position for a limiting anatomical structure, the limiting anatomical structure defining a location having a maximum distraction value.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein during the step of inputting the first position for the limiting anatomical structure, the model proximal fixation ring and the model distal fixation ring are simultaneously displayed on the display device and overlap the first image of the deformed bone on the display device.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein during the step of inputting the first position for the limiting anatomical structure, the first image of the deformed bone includes visible soft tissue structures.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the limiting anatomical structure is input graphically using an input device.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the input device is a computer mouse.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first image includes a size reference having a real measurement value.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising scaling a measurement value in the computer system to the real measurement value.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of scaling the measurement includes generating a drawing on the first image in relation to the size reference.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the measurement value in the computer system is a pixel.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first line overlying the proximal fragment in the first image on the display device includes a first endpoint corresponding to a first anatomical landmark in the proximal fragment.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second line overlying the distal fragment in the first image on the display device includes a second endpoint corresponding to a second anatomical landmark in the distal fragment.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the model bone includes a model proximal fragment corresponding to the proximal fragment and a model distal fragment corresponding to the distal fragment.