CANCELLED Better planning spine surgeries thanks to patient specific biomechanical models

Spinal deformities are one of the most mechanically disabling pathology for the human body. Resolving spinal deformities using surgery is difficult, sensitive and frequently leads to the necessity to perform corrective surgeries. The modeling methodologies presented in this talk aim at filling a crucial void by empowering surgeons to optimize the efficacy of surgery planning while minimizing the likelihood of revision surgeries.

The core objective of the methodologies is to simulate fusion-type surgeries through the creation of a digital twin of the patient's musculoskeletal spine system. This personalized digital model equips surgeons with the ability to evaluate various outcomes, including post-operative spine shape, potential intervertebral disc overloading, and other pertinent medical metrics contingent upon the chosen surgical approach.
The workflow for simulating the biomechanical behavior of the spine starts with the gathering of medical imagery such as CT scans, MRIs, and X-Ray/EOS scans. These images are then meticulously segmented and annotated, facilitating the reconstruction of three-dimensional models essential for spine modeling. Medical images also provide information about mineral density, or muscle quality that can be used as input to the biomechanical model. At the opposite end of the modeling spectrum lies the imperative to calibrate and validate the predictive systems tailored for surgeons, particularly regarding diverse surgical strategies.
All these methodologies, developed by the MDsim company, aim at being part of a cloud-based software called SPINEsim.

Speaker : Laurent Adam, who leads the R&D of MDSim company and is an invited lecturer at University of Liège and ENSCBP