DEPICTION OF PELVIC FRACTURES USING 3D VOLUMETRIC HOLOGRAPHY - COMPARISON OF PLAIN X-RAY AND CT

Objective: The goal of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility a nd test the diagnostic performance of a new technology, 3D volumetric holography, for imaging pelvic fractures. The management of pelvic fra ctures may be complex, and advanced imaging studies such as CT are fre quently indicated. Multiplanar CT reformations and 3D renderings provi de clinically useful and complementary display of the directly acquire d CT data. With the recent availability of volumetric multiple exposur e holograms, produced from serial image data, it is now possible to pr oduce true 3D images of the pelvis. In the hologram, one may view the CT data in 3D or as individual planar slices constituting the whole 3D pelvis. The diagnostic performance of the volumetric multiple exposur e holograms was tested against routine radiography, CT, and 3D volumet ric CT reconstructions. Materials and Methods: Routine radiography and CT were performed in 15 patients with suspected pelvic fractures. Vol umetric multiple exposure holograms and 3D volumetric CT reconstructio ns were created from the CT data. Axial and multiplanar reformation CT images were used as the standard for fracture, diastasis, and intraar ticular fragment detection. Results: Radiograms detected 39 of 50 of t he fractures and diastases and no intraarticular fragments. The 3D CT reconstructions and the holograms viewed as 3D objects alone missed tw o small fractures of the anterior column and one hip with intraarticul ar bone fragments. When the volumetric multiple exposure holograms wer e viewed as a 3D object and as individual planar slices constituting t he whole, their results were the same as the standard. Conclusion: Vol umetric multiple exposure holograms were as sensitive and specific as axial CT and multiplanar reformations in detecting fracture pathology. By containing and making available, from one image, both planar and 3 D information, volumetric multiple exposure holograms detected subtle anatomical features that were hidden by overlapping structures in the radiographs and the 3D CT images.