Design and Evaluation of a Percutaneous Fragment Manipulation Device for Minimally Invasive Fracture Surgery.

Reduction of fractures in the minimally invasive (MI) manner can avoid risks associated with open fracture surgery. The MI approach requires specialized tools called percutaneous fragment manipulation devices (PFMD) to enable surgeons to safely grasp and manipulate fragments. PFMDs developed for long-bone manipulation are not suitable for intra-articular fractures where small bone fragments are involved.

Robot-Assisted Fracture Surgery: Surgical Requirements and System Design.

The design of medical devices is a complex and crucial process to ensure patient safety. It has been shown that improperly designed devices lead to errors and associated accidents and costs. A key element for a successful design is incorporating the views of the primary and secondary stakeholders early in the development process.

Image-Guided Surgical Robotic System for Percutaneous Reduction of Joint Fractures.

Complex joint fractures often require an open surgical procedure, which is associated with extensive soft tissue damages and longer hospitalization and rehabilitation time. Percutaneous techniques can potentially mitigate these risks but their application to joint fractures is limited by the current sub-optimal 2D intra-operative imaging (fluoroscopy) and by the high forces involved in the fragment manipulation (due to the presence of soft tissue, e.g.

Intra-operative fiducial-based CT/fluoroscope image registration framework for image-guided robot-assisted joint fracture surgery.

Purpose: Joint fractures must be accurately reduced minimising soft tissue damages to avoid negative surgical outcomes. To this regard, we have developed the RAFS surgical system, which allows the percutaneous reduction of intra-articular fractures and provides intra-operative real-time 3D image guidance to the surgeon. Earlier experiments showed the effectiveness of the RAFS system on phantoms, but also key issues which precluded its use in a clinical application.

Navigation system for robot-assisted intra-articular lower-limb fracture surgery.

Purpose: In the surgical treatment for lower-leg intra-articular fractures, the fragments have to be positioned and aligned to reconstruct the fractured bone as precisely as possible, to allow the joint to function correctly again. Standard procedures use 2D radiographs to estimate the desired reduction position of bone fragments. However, optimal correction in a 3D space requires 3D imaging.

Computer Hexapod-Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery for the Correction of Tibial Deformities.

We describe the intraoperative use of the Taylor Spatial Frame to correct complex multiplanar deformities of the tibia before definitive internal stabilization using minimally invasive techniques. Thirteen consecutive procedures were performed in 12 patients. All deformities of the tibia were assessed with standardized radiographs allowing estimation of the center of rotation of angulation (CORA) or multiple CORA for multiplanar deformities.

Preliminary analysis of force-torque measurements for robot-assisted fracture surgery.

Our group at Bristol Robotics Laboratory has been working on a new robotic system for fracture surgery that has been previously reported [1]. The robotic system is being developed for distal femur fractures and features a robot that manipulates the small fracture fragments through small percutaneous incisions and a robot that re-aligns the long bones. The robots controller design relies on accurate and bounded force and position parameters for which we require real surgical data.

Vision-based real-time position control of a semi-automated system for robot-assisted joint fracture surgery.

Purpose: Joint fracture surgery quality can be improved by robotic system with high-accuracy and high-repeatability fracture fragment manipulation. A new real-time vision-based system for fragment manipulation during robot-assisted fracture surgery was developed and tested.

Methods: The control strategy was accomplished by merging fast open-loop control with vision-based control.

The treatment of calcaneal malunion.

The surgical treatment of calcaneal malunion is technically very demanding and requires a careful assessment of the exact cause of the problem. A number of different surgeries are available depending on the precise cause of symptoms. The results are reasonable and justify surgery in an otherwise disabled group of patients.

Interobserver and intraobserver reliability assessment of calcaneal fracture classification systems.

The aim of the present study was to assess the reliability of commonly used intra-articular calcaneal fracture classification systems and to compare them with the newer AO Integral Classification of Injuries (ICI) system. Forty computed tomography and radiographic images of 40 intra-articular calcaneal fractures were reviewed independently by 3 reviewers on 2 separate occasions and classified according to the Essex-Lopresti, Atkins, Zwipp and Tscherne, Sanders, and AO-ICI classification systems. The reviewers were unaware of the patients' identity and all aspects of clinical care.

Intra-operative correction of Taylor Spatial Frame without a computer.

The Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF) is a circular external fixator used to treat complex fractures and skeletal deformities. The device consists of 2 rings attached to bone by wires or half pins, connected by universal hinge joints to 6 independent telescopic struts, creating a hexapod. The output piece is defined as the movable ring, which has 6 degree of freedom relative to the other ring, which is the base.

Complications of definitive open reduction and internal fixation of pilon fractures of the distal tibia.

A series of 49 pilon fractures in a tertiary referral centre treated definitively by open reduction and internal fixation have been assessed and the complications of such injuries examined. A retrospective analysis of case notes, radiographs and computerised tomographs over a seven-year period from 1999-2006 was performed. Infection was the most common postoperative problem.

Posttraumatic proximal tibial growth arrest: a rare injury managed successfully with ring fixators.

A ring fixator was used in the treatment of five patients (ages 11 to 16 years) with proximal tibial growth arrest after trauma. The mean corrections were 14.2 degrees (maximum 28 degrees , minimum 0 degrees ) in the saggital plane and 14 degrees (maximum 38 degrees , minimum 2 degrees ) in the coronal plane.

Complex regional pain syndrome (type 1): a comparison of 2 diagnostic criteria methods.

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a common problem presenting to orthopedic surgeons or pain therapists, most frequently encountered after trauma or surgery to a limb. Because of a lack of a simple objective diagnostic test, diagnosis is reliant on clinical assessment. Prospective studies have repeatedly demonstrated a higher incidence than retrospective studies, an observation that has been challenged owing to the lack of uniformity of diagnostic criteria across specialties and workers researching the condition.

Computer hexapod assisted orthopaedic surgery (CHAOS) in the correction of long bone fracture and deformity.

We describe a surgical technique using the Taylor Spatial Frame intraoperatively to correct complex multiplanar deformities of the distal femur prior to definitive internal fixation using minimally invasive stabilization techniques. Eight procedures were done in 7 patients. All deformities were complex oblique plane deformities, often with a rotational component, and ranged from 10 degrees valgus to 35 degrees varus; up to 45 degrees of external rotation; 10 mm of translation and in 1 case, 100 mm of shortening.

Dermal traction on the Ilizarov frame.

We report a technique of skin traction, which harnesses the biological and mechanical properties of skin. We have used this technique in open fractures to close or reduce the size of the wound, thereby avoiding the use of split skin grafts or free flaps and their resultant additional morbidity. This report summarises our early experience with this technique in seven patients.

Calcaneal fractures in adolescents. CT classification and results of operative treatment.

The morphology of calcaneal fractures in 9 adolescents (mean age 13.4 years) with 10 fractures were classified using plain films and computed tomography scans. The patterns were found to be similar to those in adults.

Fine wire frame-assisted intramedullary nailing of the tibia.

Intramedullary nailing is accepted as the technique of choice for treatment of unstable tibial diaphyseal fractures. Indirect closed reduction must first be obtained to allow passage of the guide wire and reamers. We describe the use of a simple frame that allows precise reduction, control of rotation and easy imaging access, without increasing operating or screening time.