Image Guidance for Robot-Assisted Ankle Fracture Repair

The aim is to produce and demonstrate proper functioning of software for automatic determination of directions for fibular repositioning with the ultimate goal of application to a robotic reduction procedure that can reduce the time and complexity of the procedure as well as provide the benefits of reduced error in ideal final fibular position, improved syndesmosis restoration and reduced incidence of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. The focus of this product will be developing and testing the image guidance software, from the input of preoperative images through the steps of automated segmentation and registration until the output of a final transformation that can be used as instructions to a robot on how to reposition the fibula, but will not involve developing or implementing the hardware of the robot itself. Background Ankle fractures occur with a frequency of around 174 cases per 100,000 adults per year, with over 5 million yearly cases in the U.S. alone (Goost et al), affecting mainly young active people and the elderly. Ankle fractures most commonly involve a fracture in the lower fibula which can also result in disruption of the syndesmosis, or the alignment of other bones and ligaments within the ankle joint, if the fibula is displaced. This is due to the displacement of the lower fibula causing damage and forceful shifting of these ligaments and other connective tissue.