Computer Assisted Reconstructive Surgery

Computer Assisted Reconstructive Surgery (CARS) represents a combination of computer assisted technologies that are used to improve reconstructive surgery of bones that are partially resected or deformed as a result of disease or trauma. In general these technologies are: Pre- and intra- operative (3D) imaging; pre-operative planning; patient specific implant selection (or manufacturing) and surgical navigation. By using these advanced techniques, resection of bone tumors can be done with less damage to healthy tissue and reconstruction of bones can be performed more accurately. The advanced surgical planning and navigation technology is used both pre- as well as intra operatively, and adds to the complexity of the intervention. The Technical Medicine professional will assist the surgeon in the pre-operative planning phase as well as intra-operatively by operating the (integrated) imaging and navigation system.

Combining CT, MRI, and other medical image data results in an improved insight in the boundaries and location of (bone) tumors resulting in improved pre- operative planning and more accurate surgery.

Based on medical image data and using additive manufacturing techniques, patient-specific implants and guiding tools can be manufactured to reconstruct the patients unique anatomy.

Due to the current reliance on the expertise of the surgeon CARS is time consuming and costly and therefore only utilized in cases where patient specificity has an important added value for the clinical success of surgery that outweighs the costs. By involving the Technical Medicine professional who has the necessary medical and engineering skills in the whole CARS process, it can be optimized and streamlined to a large extent. While having the same person also present during surgery to guide surgical navigation, he or she will support the surgeon which will result in better clinical outcome for the patient.

In this course the student will be trained in all aspects of computer assisted reconstructive surgery, including pre- and intra- operative imaging, pre-operative planning, implant selection and design, and per-operative navigation.

Apart from the application of CARS in Orthopaedics, clinical application of CARS in other disciplines will also be part of this course.