Method and apparatus for model construction within orthopaedic and traumatological operation planning

Orthopaedic and traumatological surgeons are increasingly faced with surgical problems which require an unusual amount of planning. Endoprothetic measures concerning very small joints or posttraumatic conditions will illustrate the underlying idea. The same applies to constitutionally false positions which are to be corrected, or to plastic operations following, for instance, tumour resection. Planning means and methods available to date do not suffice for meeting these problematic situations as a rule. Thus, survey radiographs in two planes, tomograms, distance and spot-film radiograms will supply no picture true to scale and but an incomplete three-dimensional image. It is quite obvious that surgical strategy should be determined by means of a model true to scale, in a ''dress rehearsal'', so to speak. (orig./WU)