3D CT Reconstruction

A 3D CT reconstruction is not a separate scan but a way of processing the images from a standard CT. The many thin slices a CT produces are combined by computer into a solid, three-dimensional model of the spine that can be rotated and viewed from any angle. It is used particularly to understand complex fractures and deformities and to plan surgery precisely.

Because CT captures a continuous stack of closely spaced slices, software can stack them up and render the bone as a lifelike 3D object. Surgeons can then rotate the model, strip away overlying structures, view a fracture from any direction, and take accurate measurements of angles and distances. In modern practice these models can also be used to plan the exact size and path of screws, to design custom guides, or to print a physical model of a patient's spine before an operation.

There is nothing extra for you to do. The reconstruction is created afterwards from a CT scan you have already had, so your experience is simply that of the CT itself — lying still while the table passes through the scanner. The 3D images are generated later by the radiology team and reviewed by your surgeon; no additional scanning, injection or radiation is involved to make the model.

Seeing the spine in three dimensions makes complex problems far easier to understand and plan for. For a complicated fracture, a scoliosis or other deformity, or revision surgery, a rotatable model helps the surgeon appreciate the exact anatomy, choose the safest approach, and place implants accurately. It turns the raw data of a CT into a practical planning tool, which can make surgery more precise and safer.

• —Royal College of Radiologists — iRefer: Making the Best Use of Clinical Radiology
• —UK Health Security Agency — Ionising Radiation: Patient Dose Information
• —British Association of Spine Surgeons (BASS)

This information is for general patient education and is not a substitute for an individual consultation. Always seek personalised advice from a qualified spinal specialist.