Statistical Shape Modeling to Determine the Anterior Pelvic Plane for Total Hip Arthroplasty

The anterior pelvic plane (APP) defined by both iliac spines and the pubic symphysis, is essential in total hip arthroplasty (THA) for the orientation of the prosthetic cup. However, the APP is nowadays still difficult to determine in computer assisted orthopedic surgery (CAOS). We propose to use a statistical shape model (SSM) of the pelvis to estimate the APP from ipsilateral anatomical landmarks, more easily accessible during surgery in computer assisted THA with the patient in lateral decubitus position. A SSM of the pelvis has been built from 40 male pelvises. Various ipsilateral anatomical landmarks have been extracted from these data and used to deform the SSM. Fitting the SSM to several combinations of these landmarks, we were able to reconstruct the pelvis with an accuracy between 2.8mm and 4.4mm, and estimate the APP inclination with an angular error between 1.3° and 2.8°, depending on the landmarks fitted. Results are promising and show that the APP could be acquired during the intervention from ipsilateral landmarks only.