Deformity Correction Planning Utilizing A Mobile Device Application
May 2014
Radiographic analysis for surgical intervention involving the foot and ankle has historically been recognized as a vital component of pre-operative planning.1 This is especially true when dealing with complex foot and ankle deformities.2 The advent of digital radiology has made the process of radiographic evaluation one of greater convenience and reproducibility.3 The creation of programs available for computers, smartphones and tablets has made it possible for busy surgeons to have these images at their fingertips.
Prior to using digital radiographs, surgeons were forced to rely on more traditional methods of preoperative planning, including tracing paper cutouts, acetate templates and PowerPoint manipulations. The availability of PACS (picture archiving and communication systems), which stores digital images, has replaced traditional radiographic films. The use of computerized digital radiographs makes transmission of material easy and quick.
A recent study in US Radiology noted that “Digitalized radiography has become the standard modality in most orthopedic centers in industrialized countries over the past decade, creating the need for digitalized templating for the purposes of surgical planning.”4 Access to these digital images are available to physicians at hospitals and private practices as well as by remote login.5 This convenience has led to the advancement of computer software tools. Surgeons now have the ability to download these digital images for manipulation, measuring and planning via various commercial-based radiology software.
Although basic digital radiology software allows for measurement of distances and angles, many are not equipped with tools essential for performing deformity correction planning. Advancements in mobile technology software in the form of applications on computers, tablets and smartphones have changed how many surgeons are using digital photographs in planning for deformity correction.
One such application that is transforming the way surgeons plan for common to complex orthopedic procedures is Bone Ninja (Sinai Hospital, Baltimore). Bone Ninja is an application that was first introduced at the 2012 Baltimore Limb Deformity Course and is now available through Apple iTunes. Bone Ninja is an educational tool that allows users to upload a digital radiograph,plain film radiograph or even a photo of a radiograph for manipulation, measuring and deformity planning.
Physicians can use the program for assessment of length, angulation, translation and alignment. Special tabs within the application allow for placement of osteotomies, angulation/rotation of selected segments, the addition of internal/external fixation and other deformity correction-related tools. In addition, the Bone Ninja comes with a feature of image calibration, which authors have shown to be essential in using digital programs to accurately measure radiographs.6 The program also provides preloaded deformity cases with corrected solutions. These cases are available for those who wish to practice and gain experience in deformity planning principles.
Several other studies have shown that digital radiographic measurements have similar or higher rates for inter- and intra-rater reliability in comparison to conventional counterparts.1,3,6,7 Bone Ninja takes this idea forward by allowing the surgeon to have this tool readily available without having to access PACS.
The advantages of the Bone Ninja application are its low cost, availability and accessibility in comparison to traditional deformity correction software. Traditional software programs, such as TraumaCad, are costly and limited licensing rules do not allow transferability to multiple computers. TraumaCad also requires a direct connection to the PACS at a hospital/practice. The ability to use the Bone Ninja application on multiple mobile devices allows surgeons to have planning available at their fingertips and bypasses the need for PACS accessibility. Therefore, the cost of Bone Ninja is a fraction of traditional planning software without the licensing limitations on multiple devices.
There are some limitations. One limitation is that the Bone Ninja application is limited to the iTunes store and is not available on other platforms. It is also yet to be validated as a device equivalent to traditional planning software.

What The Literature Reveals About Digital Radiographs And Pre-Op Planning Protocols
The medical and surgical literature has numerous examples of using digital radiographs in preoperative planning protocols. In particular, the use of computer programs, such as TraumaCad, reportedly provides essential tools in appropriately measuring limb length discrepancy.4 TraumaCad is a program that was developed for deformity planning and templating for many orthopedic procedures. Drs. Siddiqui and Lamm have an article in press for publication utilizing this software for the correction of flatfoot deformity. We found that utilizing the TraumaCad software accurately can predict the bone graft sizes needed for complete flatfoot correction with the Evans calcaneal osteotomy.
Weighing The Pros And Cons Of The Bone Ninja Application
Dr. Lamm, the senior author, has long been implementing preoperative planning and deformity correction principles for common and complex foot and ankle pathology at the International Center for Limb Lengthening/Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics. Dr. Lamm and various authors have discussed the benefits of preoperative planning within the foot and ankle surgical community.8-13 Both Drs. Siddiqui and Lamm routinely use the Bone Ninja application for preoperative planning of most all foot and ankle surgeries. It is also a valuable tool for case preparation, illustrating to patients their pathology and the planned procedure. It also is a great platform to educate fellows and residents at the International Center for Limb Lengthening about deformity correction planning and principles. Bone Ninja reinforces deformity planning principles by utilizing nomenclature that surgeons commonly use to discuss deformity correction. The application comes with preloaded cases that serve as an educational guide for those new to deformity planning. It also allows surgeons to upload their own cases to practice and plan for cases. The application has multiple help tools that provide new users tutorial guidance that makes using the application very easy. The touch features and tabs allow users to navigate through the application with minimal instruction, making the Bone Ninja very user friendly.