An Automatic Measurement System for Ulna Bone Morphological Parameters Based on 3D Slicer Software

Proximal ulnar fracture is complex fractures of the elbow joint that typically requires treatment with plate fixation or prosthetic replacement. Identification of anatomic characteristics is crucial in surgery. Improper treatment that fails to restore normal structure can severely affect upper limb function and weaken elbow joint stability. However, manually measuring related morphological parameters of the complex anatomy and shape variability of the proximal ulna bone can be time-consuming and lead to human errors. To address this issue, this study presents an automated method for measuring ulnar bone morphological parameters using 3D Slicer software. An average statistical model of the ulna bone was derived from 112 ulna bone data, and a system for automatic measurement of ulna bone morphological parameters was designed using the 3D Slicer software. During the measurement, professional doctors marked assistive markers, which were used to apply registration algorithms between the statistical model, other measured models, and markers. The system automatically measured each ulna bone morphology features. The results showed that the average error of the automated measurement system was about 1-3 mm compared to the manual measurement by a professional physician, indicating the accuracy of the automated ulnar measurement system. And this system saves time and reduces human errors.