Osteotomy Planning with the BodyCAD System
Patient Information
Corrective osteotomies are powerful joint-preserving procedures that allow us to realign the leg, improve joint mechanics, and protect cartilage, meniscus, and ligament reconstructions. Accurate planning is critical. For this reason, I use the BodyCAD® digital planning and patient-specific instrumentation system for many osteotomies.
Below is important information to help you prepare.
Required imaging
To plan your osteotomy, I require:
- A specific CT scan performed according to the BodyCAD imaging protocol
- A full-length standing long leg X-ray (hip-to-ankle alignment film)
These studies allow for detailed 3D digital planning of your correction.
Where to obtain imaging
You may complete these studies at:
- Mammoth Hospital
- Northern Inyo Hospital
If you are traveling from out of the area and need to complete imaging elsewhere, please provide your imaging center with the required BodyCAD protocol PDFs (available on this page).
If imaging is done outside our area
If your CT and X-rays are performed at an outside facility:
- Ensure the imaging center follows the provided BodyCAD CT protocol exactly.
- Obtain a digital copy of your imaging (DICOM format).
- Upload your studies using the "My Medical Images" tab on the homepage.
This allows me to securely download and upload your images for digital planning.
Why I use the BodyCAD system
The BodyCAD system allows me to:
- Create a precise 3D digital plan of your correction before surgery
- Confirm alignment corrections in both the coronal (side-to-side) and sagittal (front-to-back) planes
- Review your surgical plan with you in detail
- Plan hardware placement in advance
- Use patient-specific cutting guides and instrumentation created specifically for your anatomy
This approach allows for:
- More accurate correction
- Safer execution of complex osteotomies
- Improved efficiency in the operating room
- Reduced reliance on intraoperative estimation
All of this translates into safer and more precise surgery for my patients.
For more information about the technology, visit: bodycad.com
Biplanar and complex corrections
Many deformities involve more than one plane. With traditional techniques, certain cuts - especially biplanar cuts (corrections in two planes) - can be extremely difficult to perform accurately.
With digital planning and patient-specific guides, I can:
- Execute precise cuts in multiple planes
- Control tibial slope when needed
- Optimize alignment in ways that are difficult to reproduce without computer-assisted planning
Combining procedures
Because I can digitally map:
- The osteotomy correction
- The hardware placement
- Tunnel positions for ACL reconstruction
- Cartilage or meniscus procedures
I am often able to combine procedures in a single stage rather than performing staged surgeries. This can reduce overall recovery time and minimize the number of operations required.
Timeline for planning and surgery
Osteotomy planning with BodyCAD involves several steps:
- Imaging acquisition
- Digital surgical planning
- Manufacturing of your patient-specific guides and implants
Planning can take several weeks. Production of the custom guides and instrumentation also takes several weeks.
From the time your imaging is completed to the date of surgery, the timeline is typically about 6 weeks.
Early completion of imaging helps avoid delays.
Summary
To move forward with osteotomy planning:
- Obtain the required CT scan (BodyCAD protocol)
- Obtain a long leg standing alignment X-ray
- Complete imaging at Mammoth Hospital or Northern Inyo Hospital when possible
- If done elsewhere, upload your studies to the "My Medical Images" tab
Using advanced 3D digital planning and patient-specific instrumentation allows me to deliver precise, safer, and more efficient osteotomy surgery tailored to your anatomy.
If you have questions about imaging requirements or scheduling, please contact our office.
