Computer-assisted surgery

The term "computer-assisted surgery" (CAS) contains a variety of different applications. Priorities in trauma surgery have navigation systems. In fact , two basically different developments can be distinguished: on one hand, t he possibility of navigation, based on preoperative CT data sets; and on th e other hand navigation in intraoperative C-arm images. With the present av ailable navigation technology, it can be assumed that intra-operative CT-ba sed tracking in the field of spinal surgery can be performed accurately, re gardless of whether active or passive markers are used. Another navigation option is C-arm-based osteosynthesis of the proximal femur. An application of navigation assistance in the field of pelvic surgery is osteotomy and pl acement of iliosacral screws. Future developments will have to concentrate on the technical characteristi cs of each navigation system. Advantageous concepts of visualization may ge nerate required information to the surgeon in a way that unconstrained inte raction at the operation table is combined with simultaneous integration of virtual and computer-aided visual information. New tracking systems will a llow the reconstruction of data sets after reposition of segmented bone fra gments, so that also in complex pelvic fractures the implantation of screws after reposition will be possible. Computer-aided surgery is able to improve the precision of operations in tr auma surgery. In future, further developments of navigation systems can be expected. This fact is supported by the establishment of faster and cheaper hardware, as well as more intelligent and user-friendly software.