Simulator and distal targeting device for in-vitro experimentation
and training in computer-aided closed medullary nailing

Leo Joskowicz, (1), Charles Milgrom, (2), Ariel Simkin (3),
Sholomo Kimchi (4), Ziv Yaniv (1), Ofer Sadowsky (1)

(1) School of Computer Science and Engineering, 
    The Hebrew Universtity of Jerusalem, ISRAEL
(2) Dept.of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hadassah Univ. Hospital, Jerusalem, ISRAEL
(3) Dept. Experimental Surgery, Hadassah Univ. Hospital, Jerusalem, ISRAEL
(4) Precision Machining Workshop, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, ISRAEL

Abstract: 

Reducing the surgeons' cumulative radiation exposure and improving the
positioning accuracy during orthopaedic surgeries are key issues in
computer-assisted orthopaedic surgery.  Over the past years, we have
developed FRACAS, a computer-integrated system for assisting surgeons in
closed long bone fracture reduction.  The FRACAS system replaces
uncorrelated static fluoroscopic images with a virtual reality display of
three-dimensional bone models created from preoperative CT and tracked
intraoperatively in real-time.  We have developed two devices and related
software for in-vitro experimentation and training for computer-aided
closed medullary nailing: one is a fracture reduction simulator and the
other is an adjustable drill guide for distal locking.


Keywords: computer-assisted orthopaedic surgery, closed medullary nailing,
fracture reduction, distal locking, targeting device, training simulator.

Published in: Proc. 14th Int. Congress on Computer-Assisted Radiology and
Surgery, CARS'2000, H.U. Lemke et. al. editors, Elsevier 2000, pp. 969-975.