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Abstract
Identification of anatomical landmarks on skeletal tissue reconstructed from CT/MR
images is indispensable in patient-specific preoperative planning (tumour referencing,
deformity evaluation, resection planning, and implant alignment and anchoring) as
well as intra-operative navigation (bone registration and instruments referencing).
Interactive localisation of landmarks on patient-specific anatomical models is time-consuming
and may lack in repeatability and accuracy. We present a computer graphics-based method
for automatic localisation and identification (labelling) of anatomical landmarks
on a 3D model of bone reconstructed from CT images of a patient. The model surface
is segmented into different landmark regions (peak, ridge, pit and ravine) based on
surface curvature. These regions are labelled automatically by an iterative process
using a spatial adjacency relationship matrix between the landmarks. The methodology
has been implemented in a software program and its results (automatically identified
landmarks) are compared with those manually palpated by three experienced orthopaedic
surgeons, on three 3D reconstructed bone models. The variability in location of landmarks
was found to be in the range of 2.15-5.98 mm by manual method (inter surgeon) and
1.92-4.88 mm by our program. Both methods performed well in identifying sharp features.
Overall, the performance of the automated methodology was better or similar to the
manual method and its results were reproducible. It is expected to have a variety
of applications in surgery planning and intra-operative navigation.