An Automatic Genetic Algorithm Framework for the Optimization of Three-dimensional Surgical Plans of Forearm Corrective Osteotomies

TL;DR

This paper introduces an automatic genetic algorithm-based framework for generating preoperative surgical plans for forearm osteotomies, reducing manual effort and improving planning accuracy through multi-objective optimization.

Contribution

It presents a fully automatic optimization framework that integrates diagnostic assessment, clinical objectives, and genetic algorithms for surgical planning of complex bone deformities.

Findings

55% of solutions were rated better than surgeon-generated plans by readers

Average error improvements over gold standard solutions

Successful validation on 36 clinical cases

Abstract

3D computer-assisted corrective osteotomy has become the state-of-the-art for surgical treatment of complex bone deformities. Despite available technologies, the automatic generation of clinically acceptable, ready-to-use preoperative planning solutions is currently not possible for such pathologies. Multiple contradicting and mutually dependent objectives have to be considered, as well as clinical and technical constraints, generally requiring iterative manual adjustments. This leads to unnecessary efforts and unbearable clinical costs, hindering also the quality of patient treatment. In this paper, we propose an optimization framework for the generation of ready-to-use preoperative planning solutions in a fully automatic fashion. An automatic diagnostic assessment using patient-specific 3D models is performed for 3D malunion quantification and definition of the optimization parameters. Afterward, clinical objectives are translated into the optimization module, and controlled through tailored fitness functions based on a weighted and multi-staged optimization approach. The optimization is based on a genetic algorithm capable of solving multi-objective optimization problems with non-linear constraints. The framework outputs a complete preoperative planning solution including position and orientation of the osteotomy plane, transformation to achieve the bone reduction, and position and orientation of the fixation plate and screws. A qualitative validation was performed on 36 consecutive cases of radius osteotomy where solutions generated by the optimization algorithm (OA) were compared against the gold standard (GS) solutions generated by experienced surgeons. Solutions were blinded and presented to 6 readers, who voted OA solutions to be better in 55% of the time. The quantitative evaluation was based on different error measurements, showing average improvements with respect to the GS.