Preplanning and simulation of surgery using rapid modelling.

Rapid prototyping (RP) is increasingly being used for solution of many problems associated with biomedical engineering. RP quickly delivers prototypes that are constructed in an additive, layer-by-layer process driven by three-dimensional computer aided design (CAD) data. The aim of this work was to demonstrate that surgery for acetabulum fracture can be significantly facilitated through the use of a method based on advanced imaging techniques and the RP technique. A case of complex acetabulum fracture was reported, and application of computed tomography (CT) images, CAD and RP were explored. Modelling of the fractured part helped in preplanning and simulating the surgery and saved surgery time. The method allowed feedback action at most steps of the surgery process, thus permitting an important time saving during surgery.