Computer-assisted orthopedic training system for fracture fixation.

Background: Surgical training has been greatly affected by the challenges of reduced training opportunities, shortened working hours, and financial pressures. There is an increased need for the use of training system in developing psychomotor skills of the surgical trainee.

Aims: To develop the training system for fracture fixation and validate its effectiveness in a cohort of junior orthopedic trainees.

Factors affecting defaulting from DOTS therapy under the national programme of tuberculosis control in Alexandria, Egypt.

This unmatched case-control study aimed to identify factors affecting default from therapy under the national programme of TB control in Alexandria, Egypt. Record reviews and structured interviews were made with 57 defaulters and 187 randomly selected controls. Univariate analysis showed 13 out of 54 factors, investigated were significantly associated with defaulting and, after stepwise logistic regression, 5 factors remained in the model: younger age (adjusted OR = 0.

3D visualization and open planning platform in virtual fluoroscopy.

Typically virtual fluoroscopy systems display the tracked instruments as a projected shadow on a number of 2D x-ray images completely missing the depth information of the third dimension. This paper describes an extra tool for 3D reconstruction in virtual fluoroscopy which is useful to clarify the position of instruments or anatomy and can be used in planning and assessing surgical procedure without further x-ray images. Two examples are given: displaced subtrochanteric fracture and slipped upper femoral epiphysis is presented.

Factors affecting targeting using the computer assisted orthopaedic surgery system (CAOSS).

An advantage of CAOS over traditional surgery is improved precision of implant position and trajectories in 3D space. However, the implementation of these trajectories often adds an extra step to the operation that increases operative time and requires extra training. This paper reports a study of variation in time-to-task and learning curve in performing a standard task of targeting in 3D space using Hull's CAOSS.

A virtual fluoroscopy system and its use for image guidance in unicompartmental knee surgery.

The C-arm fluoroscope is an indispensable intraoperative 2D imaging device for orthopaedic surgery. However, its frequent use in an operation presents a significant radiation hazard to the theatre staff and patient. A recent technique known as virtual fluoroscopy (VF) enhances the fluoroscope's capability for image guided surgery by tracking optically the position of the C-arm, surgical instruments and the patient.