3D Digital Imagery a Solution for the Teaching of Osteology: Example of the Thoracic cage

Abstract

Osteology is a fundamental discipline, its classical teaching becomes difficult because of plethora of students and shortage of bony parts. It’s in this context that we have made, from 3D volume imaging, a modeling of the rib cage as a test using a software for post-treatment of CT images in order to propose a pedagogical tool for studying thorax’s skeletal and adding descriptions with the help of classical works. This was a prospective study involving 27 patients aged between 35 and 45 years. The scanners used were HITACHI ECLOS 16 cuts. Once the CT scan was selected, the DICOM data was transmitted to the post-processing console. The images were processed on the console "Aquarius Intuition Edition Version 4. 4. 7. 855113", for one patient we used Veiwer Osirix 10.6.8 Mac. All bones have been dynamically described thanks to the volume rendering. We thus obtained volumetric reconstructions of three-dimensional CT images of the different bone structures superimposed on those taught in classical anatomy practical work. We obtained a scenario of practical work in the form of a slide show that the teacher can use for works with or without model and even remotely. The virtual reality obtained with the 3D reconstructions of CT scans of the rib cage is a tool for self-learning of osteology for students but also a way for teachers to do practical work without having to use models, and even at a distance. KEY WORDS: 3D imaging, Teaching, Tomodensitometry, Osteology.