Hybrid navigation interface for orthopedic and trauma surgery.

Several visualization methods for intraoperative navigation systems were proposed in the past. In standard slice based navigation, three dimensional imaging data is visualized on a two dimensional user interface in the surgery room. Another technology is the in-situ visualization i.e. the superimposition of imaging data directly into the view of the surgeon, spatially registered with the patient. Thus, the three dimensional information is represented on a three dimensional interface. We created a hybrid navigation interface combining an augmented reality visualization system, which is based on a stereoscopic head mounted display, with a standard two dimensional navigation interface. Using an experimental setup, trauma surgeons performed a drilling task using the standard slice based navigation system, different visualization modes of an augmented reality system, and the combination of both. The integration of a standard slice based navigation interface into an augmented reality visualization overcomes the shortcomings of both systems.