Feature-Based Design of Personalized Anatomical Plates for the Treatment of Femoral Fractures

Abstract

In this study, we propose a feature-based method of anatomic plate design for the treatment of individual femoral fractures. This approach improves the design efficiency and convenience of personalized plates. First, we create a parameterized template that represents the typical anatomic features of the femur. This template is produced by reconstructing and parameterizing feature surfaces that are segmented from an average model. Next, the femoral template is deformed under constraints to obtain an individual reference model using several feature parameters of a fractured bone. The major fracture segments are guided automatically to their original anatomic positions. We next design plate templates, namely typical parameterized anatomic plates with specific shapes and structures, and set up the parameter mapping relation between the femoral template and plate template based on the correspondence of feature points. Finally, an initial personalized plate is quickly generated through the instantiation of the selected template with derived parameter values solved from feature mappings. The personalized plate is obtained based on further modification of the initial plate using semantic parameters. Our method supports the automatic restoration of fracture models and achieves the rapid creation of personalized bone plate. The intuitive modification of the shape and structure that arises from our approach contributes to the improvement of design efficiency and quality of personalized plates for individuals.