Digital templating and preoperative deformity analysis with standard imaging software.

Analysis of deformity and subsequent correction are the basis for many orthopaedic surgical procedures. In advanced cases of joint degeneration, arthroplasty may be the only available treatment option. Until recently, these analyses and preoperative surgical plans have been performed using standard radiographs, tracing paper, and/or plastic overlays. Numerous customized, commercially available, computer-based preoperative planning software programs have been introduced. The purposes of this study were to describe (1) the techniques used in deformity analysis and preoperative surgical planning using standard radiographs for joint arthroplasty and corrective osteotomies of the extremities, (2) the use of computed tomography (CT) scans to analyze rotational deformities in the presence and absence of joint prostheses and in planning corrective rotational osteotomies or revision joint replacement, and (3) the techniques for analyzing angular deformities of the spine. All these applications were performed with a widely available image analysis software.