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Three-Dimensional Spine Reconstruction from Radiographs

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Spinal Imaging and Image Analysis

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computational Vision and Biomechanics ((LNCVB,volume 18))

Abstract

For several musculoskeletal pathologies, single radiographic images do not offer the necessary information to portray the actual three-dimensional (3D) representation of the spine in order to assess effects such as intrinsic vertebral rotation, inter-vertebral disc wedging, spine torsion or dislocations. This limits the scope of routine diagnostic, follow-up exams, and treatment planning. Volumetric imaging modalities such as CT or MRI are on the other hand limited due to the fact that they cannot be acquired in the standing position, which is required for evaluation of posture. Biplanar radiography is still the imaging modality that is most frequently used for the 3D clinical assessment of spinal deformities. In this chapter, we present the different techniques involved for obtaining the 3D reconstruction of a spine using biplanar radiographs. First, we present different approaches (linear and non-linear) for calibrating the radiographic scene in order to configure the proper 2D-3D spatial relationship. Once the stereo-radiographic system is calibrated, anatomical landmarks or vertebral shapes constituting the spine can be identified on the radiographic images using manual identification or automated tools. Finally, using these high-level primitives located in an accurate calibrated system, a spine model can be reconstructed in 3D using a number of correspondence methods. For selected applications using reconstructed 3D spine models, we show how these techniques can help to better understand spinal pathologies such as idiopathic scoliosis, which is inherently a three-dimensional deformation of the spine.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the contributions of F. Cheriet and H. Labelle in this research. Research funding was supported in part by the Fonds Quebecois de la Recherche sur la Nature et les Technologies grants, the MENTOR program from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Canada Research Chairs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Polytechnique Montreal, P.O. Box 6079, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3A7, Canada

    Samuel Kadoury

  2. CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, 3175 Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Samuel Kadoury

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  1. Samuel Kadoury
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Correspondence to Samuel Kadoury .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. GE Healthcare and University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

    Shuo Li

  2. Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    Jianhua Yao

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Kadoury, S. (2015). Three-Dimensional Spine Reconstruction from Radiographs. In: Li, S., Yao, J. (eds) Spinal Imaging and Image Analysis. Lecture Notes in Computational Vision and Biomechanics, vol 18. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12508-4_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12508-4_6

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