4D mixed reality tool for orthopaedic surgery - a feasibility study
Inger A. Grunbeck, Rahul Prasanna Kumar, Andrea Teatini, Ole Jakob Elle, Ola Wiig · Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering Imaging & Visualization · 2025
Accurately diagnosing joint conditions and bone deformations relying on 2D imaging remains challenging. This paper examined the feasibility of a new workflow for real-time motion visualisation of a patient’s hip joint, using our novel 4D mixed reality tool providing a non-invasive ‘X-ray vision’ experience. A feasibility study was conducted to evaluate the workflow in a clinical context, asking surgeons to locate pain-causing bone deformations during patient examinations, using X-ray, CT, and our tool. Questionnaires with a Likert scale ranging from ‘Strongly Disagree’ to ‘Strongly Agree’ confirmed the clinical feasibility of our workflow. Surgeons highly rated our tool’s visualisation capabilities and assigned the highest marks when asked about their confidence in pinpointing the deformities’ locations (‘Strongly Agree’): X-ray (0%), CT (25%), presented tool (100%). We believe our visualisation tool will become an asset in advancing orthopaedic diagnostics in the future, contributing to improved patient care and surgical outcomes.