Planning Tendon Paths Using an Interactive Graphic Workstation

Abstract

This study provides a technique to be used for planning tendon paths in thumb reconstruction surgery. All mathematical modeling computations are performed on a VAX 11/750 host computer and the graphic manipulation is carried out by the Evans & Sutherland PS390 color display system. The results of the simulation are stored in a log file, including the rotation angles of the joints and the location of the pulley and the insertion points as a record of the tendon transfer design for a specific hand. The methods are based on the modeling of two separate types of tendon paths that consist of straight line segments and curved segments that follow bone contours. The method further assumes that the path of the tendon will always evolve to a planar curve. By integrating this technique with an existing kinematic model of the hand derived from CT-scans, a clinically relevant method has been developed.