Computer-aided orthopedic surgery with near-real-time biomechanical feedback

This article describes our ongoing efforts in computer-aided surgery. We are developing and testing a biomechanical guidance system that will interact with the surgeon and report the biomechanical state of the joint during hip surgery. The system uses information from the imagery of a computer-assisted navigation system and displays the contact pressure distribution in the hip joint as the joint realignment: is modified intraoperatively. We describe the use of the presented technique for preoperative planning, assessment of surgical outcome, and validation of results as well as intraoperative applications. Although the focus of this work is on periacetabular hip osteotomy, applications of this research can be extended to other types of hip osteotomies, joint osteotomies, und total joint replacement techniques.