Abstract des Autors

This paper summaries the current status of computer assisted surgery systems, describing principles and latest developments. Although the field of computer assisted surgery has emerged only a few years ago it represents a rapidly developing branch of medicine and orthopaedic surgery in particular. So far, CT images provided the basic source of information for intraoperative navigation for most of the computer assisted systems with the pedicle screw insertion being the most commonly used application. Acetabular osteotomies as an example of precision and 3-D orientation demanding procedures were successfully introduced as additional applications for such systems. Recent developments in our institution and early clinical trials showed that computer guidance may also be performed on specially acquired fluoroscopic images. Further projects showed that the distal locking of the femoral nail and femoral fracture reduction with minimal fluoroscopic radiation can be successfully performed using this novel technology. Verf.-Referat