Introduction The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the role of MDCT (multislice or multi-detector row computerised tomography) in the acquisition of information in musculoskeletal pathology and the subsequent manipulation of this data in obtaining 3D reconstruction to aid surgical planning.

Methods Numerous CT studies were performed on patients who had sustained significant and often complex injuries, including pelvic, acetabular, femoral head, proximal tibial and pilon fractures. The images were acquired on GE lightspeed scanners and post processed using advantage window workstations. The 3D imaging was then used in the planning of surgery. This allowed the accurate assessment of site and extent of fracture displacement as well as a 3D appreciation of any deformity present.

Results The images obtained were displayed using multiple formats: axially acquired source images, multiplanar isotropic reformatted images and 3D surface or volume-rendered images. The facility of being able to remove a particular bare to view adjacent bony structures increases the ability to assess the anatomical nature of a clinical problem.

Conclusions Multislice CT with 3D reconstructions is an extremely useful diagnostic tool in aiding surgical planning for trauma cases. In addition, the ability to rotate images on the workstation and obtain multiple perspectives, as well as being able to remove osseous structures to view adjacent bones with greater clarity provides useful additional information.

In relation to the conduct of this study, one or more of the authors is in receipt of a research grant from a non-commercial source.