A Computer Assisted Approach for Nailing Fractured Hips

Abstract

This study was motivated by the high incidence of unsatisfactory results with present techniques for pinning fractured hips. Excess mortality and failure to walk resulted mostly from complications due to improperly placed nails. Two-dimensional and three-dimensional models of the proximal end of the femur were developed. The two-dimensional model was used to calculate optimum placement .of a nail, given the angle of the nail, the clearance to the inner calcar cortex, and the position of the tip of the nail. The two-dimensional model corresponds precisely to standard x-ray views presently employed during surgery . The three-dimensional model was used to display. a shaded image of the proximal end of' an actual human femur. A technique is presented which is anticipated to be able to adapt the three-dimensional model to specific patients. The bulk of the work consisted of programming and data entry for the femur models. The success of the present simple models holds promise for the development, in the near future, of programs which will be useful to the surgeon during the progress of the operation.