Objective: To design a virtual operation of joint replacement for surgical drills using a haptic device, SenSable_FreeForm_Modelling (SFM), to enhance surgeons' efficiency and enable "Virtual tutorial without reality" for interns.
Method: A patient with hip joint osteoarthritis is randomly selected to perform Total Hip Replacement (THR). The hip images were input into Mimics in the format of *.dicom after CT scan and then exported to SFM using the stereolithographic (*.stl) format. A surgical toolkit can be created virtually with Computer Aided Design software such as Pro-E or Ghost SDK and a visual drill scenario of THR directed by a force-respondent stick, namely Phantom.
Result: 3D models of the hip joint were rebuilt illustrating clearly that the geometrical shapes of the surgical equipment created are similar to real instruments, and the THR operation is emulated distinctly in novelty.
Conclusion: In obedience to an ancient maxim, so called 'genuine knowledge originated from practice', this simulative operation offers hands-on experience for students in the orthopaedics field with remarkable effects, contributing not only teaching cases for medical courses but also a planning basis for physical surgery.
Keywords: FreeForm modelling; teaching drill; total hip replacement; virtual surgery.
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