Interactive Simulation of Cranial Surgery in a Computer Aided Design Environment

Accurate pre-surgical planning is a prerequisite for successful craniofacial surgery. This paper introduces a simulation system developed in a computer aided design (CAD) environment, where a 3-D mathematical model of the skull is entered. The architecture of the program yields a flexible and easy-to-use system that allows the simulation of surgery on the wire frame image of the model. Possible actions simulated are osteotomy, bending, rotation, translation and removal. Numerical values for anatomical distances and the intracranial volume are easily calculated. Information on the techniques used and the numerical data resulting from the simulation can be stored. Plots of intermediate steps of the simulation or of contours of separate pieces permit feed-back to the operating theatre.