Three-dimensional surface reconstruction of the carpal bones from CT scans: transaxial versus coronal technique.

Computer methods for reconstruction of three-dimensional (3-D) images from standard CT scans have been developed. The process does not require special computer knowledge and can be performed with a unmodified CT scanner. 3-D images are especially valuable for conveying information to nonradiologist physicians, who are unfamiliar with the numerous slice-format images produced in a standard CT examination. The utility of these methods for clarification of areas of complex skeletal anatomy has been previously demonstrated in the literature. We performed 3-D imaging on a normal isolated cadaver hand and on a patient with scaphoid fracture. In both cases the 3-D images obtained had excellent osseous anatomical detail. A method of acquisition of high quality wrist CT scans, suitable for 3-D processing, is suggested.