Human Spinal Column Diagnostic Parameter Identification Using Geometrical Model of the Vertebral Body

A geometric model and related methods to easily define patient specific vertebral body models have been introduced in our previous studies. This paper proposes an angle measurement method that can be fully automated after the definition of the patient specific vertebral body model. A Principal Component Analysis based algorithm allowing the quick identification of the symmetry plane of the human spline is also developed and described. The clinical dataset used to analyse and validate the models and methods introduced consists of 39 patients' lumbar section of the spinal column with 195 vertebrae. In terms of angle measurement the proposed geometric model and the measurement method is proven to be accurate enough for clinical diagnostics, the average mean value of the measurement error 0.15 degrees and 0.75 degrees comparing the measurements to the two reference datasets. The average standard deviation of the error was around 2.50 degrees that is almost the same as the average standard deviation of the two reference datasets (2.34 degrees). Copyright (C) 2021 The Authors.