Benefits of radial distortion correction in arthroscopic surgery: a first experimental study on a knee model

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Lens probes used in arthroscopy typically have a small diameter and wide field-of-view. This introduces strong radial distortion (RD) into the image, ultimately affecting the surgeon's hand-eye coordination. This study evaluates potential benefits of using distortion-free images in arthroscopic surgery. METHODS: Distortion-free images were obtained using RDFixer™ software (Perceive3D, SA) to remove RD in the input video stream. Twelve orthopedic residents performed an arthroscopic task (loose body removal) in a dry-knee model using video with and without distortion. Residents were questioned about image quality, and surgical performance was rated using an adapted Global Rating Scale. RESULTS: A statistically significant improvement of all parameters was observed with distortion-free images. Residents perceived distortion-free images as providing a wider field-of-view and a better notion of relative depth and distance. CONCLUSION: RD correction improved the surgical performance of residents, potentially decreasing their learning curve. Future work will study whether the benefits are observable in experienced surgeons.