3D Geometrical and kinematcal models of the human spine

The 3D medical imagery systems have many applications. Among these, this paper presents one application relative to 3D display of the geometrical and kinematical model of the scoliotic spine. This 3D model of the vertebral column is made fora diagnostic tool to identify scoliosis and also to simulate the orthopaedic correction. Necessary data, to build the 3D model, are acquired in the form of radiographs for technical and economic reasons. A stereocorrespondance calculation of the 2-dimensional data will allow for the construction of a 3-dimensional geometric model of the spine, and this one can be visualised in various conditions. Supplementary data obtained from radiographs of corrective flexion are used to construct the kinematical model. This is used in particular to simulate the orthopaedic correction of scoliotic spinal shape.