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Department of Podiatry

CT 3D Reconstructions

One of the newer developments in CT technology is the ability not only to reconstruct a single plane image from the series of X-rays taken, but to piece these together into a rotating 3D reconstruction. Such a technique can make it easier to visualise the complexity of the underlying skeleton.

Two examples are presented below, that are Quicktime™ movies.

Example 1: 'Normal' cadaver foot

This foot is believed to come from a man in his 60's. It had been partially dissected, but with bones and surrounding structures intact. It had only been preserved in alcohol for a few months. Four images are presented (click on each, then come back to this page):

• An AP X-ray: note the changes to the 1st MTPJ, including the lateral joint osteophyte and lateral displacement of the sesamoids.

• A 3mm slice frontal plane (axial) reconstruction of the foot: use the slider of the movie player to move back and forward through the CT slices of the foot. Obviously the soft tissue is not all present. See if you can see the bipartite fibular sesamoid.

• A 1mm slice frontal plane reconstruction of the forefoot, particularly the 1st MTPJ: note the bipartite sesamoid more clearly in this much finer scan.

• A 3D reconstruction of the forefoot: Interesting to note the correlation between this animated sequence and the previous images/reconstructions.

Example 2: 'HAV' cadaver foot

This foot is believed to come from a woman in her 70's. It also has been partially dissected, but had been preserved in alcohol for at least 2 years.

• An AP X-ray: subluxation of the 1st MTPJ, overlapping of the toes ...

• A 3mm slice frontal plane (axial) reconstruction of the foot

• A 3D reconstruction of the forefoot: note how there is considerably greater bony destruction in this foot compared to the 'normal' foot. This is probably partly to do with the generalised osteoartritis throughout the foot, but also due to the demineralising effect of the alcohol on the cadaver foot.

Content Approved by: Head of Podiatry

Page maintained by: Podiatry Webmaster

Last Updated: July 8th, 2003