Abstract 18

EXPLORING ORTHOPAEDIC USE OF 3-D RECONSTRUCTED MRI APPLICATIONS: AN OVERVIEW OF PRELIMINARY VALIDATION IN A CONTROLLED PRECLINICAL MODEL

Kurmis AP*, Slavotinek JP, Reynolds KJ, Hearn TC.

*Department of Orthopaedics, Division of Surgery, Repatriation General Hospital, Daws Road, Daw Park, South Australia, Australia & School of Informatics and Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.

Although three-dimensional (3D) applications of computed tomography are now widely considered commonplace in orthopaedic assessment, comparable magnetic resonance (MR)- based equivalents remain grossly under-utilised despite suggestion of significant potential benefit to patient management. Prospective research was undertaken to validate a remote 3- D MR model that allows targeted non-invasive assessment of both bony and soft-tissue structures in the presence of acute-traumatic or chronic-pathological states. Validation was performed using human, ovine and synthetic tissue materials, with determination of linear and volumetric measurement accuracy and repeatability, time generation efficacy, the effect of image display-parameter manipulation, and preclinical extensions to isolated soft-tissue depiction and multi-fragment bony injury.

During testing, the software-based 3-D MR model demonstrated high degrees of measurement precision and measurements generated from the model showed high repeatability and an accurate reflection of true structural presentation. In pure bony evaluation, 3-D MR was shown to provide clinically acceptable surface detail, complimenting the existing provision of highquality soft-tissue information. In this setting, 3-D MR may be considered a useful nonirradiating alternative to CT-based investigation. In isolated soft-tissue evaluation, the progression from conventional-planar to 3D imaging provides a platform that may facilitate improvement in general assessment, diagnostics and operative planning. The findings of this work provide evidence-based justification to progress the current model to prospective in vivo orthopaedic testing.

Return to Listing of 2004 Abstracts
View Listing of 2005 Abstracts