Hip joint anatomy virtual and stereolithographic reconstruction for preoperative planning of total hip replacement

The purpose of the present work was to develop a tool for preoperatively planning the Total Hip Replacement (THR). Starting from the MR images, the 3D surface model of both the pelvis and the femur was built and the surgical operation was virtually performed. Data coming from gait analysis were added to visualize the physiologic movement of the hip joint. The resulting triangular mesh was sufficiently accurate to allow the building of the stereolithographic model of the joint by means of rapid prototyping technique. The plastic bones allow the user to have an enhanced vision of the surgical procedure to be performed.