Published Article / The link from medical scan images through data manipulation to additive manufacturing is well established. Various types of software are used to deliver the required .STL file(s). Often, the data manipulation will require the generation of new shapes around existing geometry, e.g. an implant that will replace missing bone tissue. This paper reports exploratory work undertaken to assess the feasibility of using haptic modelling and "virtual sculpting" software to generate novel designs of vertebrae implants for correction of spinal curvature. .STL data of several vertebrae, originating from CT scans, was imported into the Freeform system from SensAble technologies. It was used to create immutable "bucks" around which the user "sculpted" three-dimensional implant geometries. It must be noted that the designs have not been medically assessed and were for demonstration purposes only. However, the process route followed did prove to be feasible and offered some particular advantages, e.g. a precise fit between the implant and the vertebra and the possibility of enabling the direct intervention of medics in the implant design process.

Balance disorders and falls are prevalent among multiple pathologies that affect the musculoskeletal or sensorineural systems. Annually, fall-related injuries put excessive economic burden on society and yet, current clinical balance assessment tools based on functional tests are inaccurate and have limited association with fall risk. Therefore, there is a growing need of an accurate balance and fall risk assessment tool for clinical use. The primary purpose of this research was to develop an accurate Center of Pressure (COP) based balance assessment tool to study postural instability and fall risk. Chapter 1 aimed at development of the COP based tool using cost effective equipment- a Wii Balance Board (WBB) and testing its accuracy and errors. The result of this study indicated that the WBB tool is reliable in assessing balance and the linearity and hysteresis errors in WBB tool are higher than force plates but it compares well in terms of cost, portability and availability. Chapter 2 aimed at assessing the relation between the radiographic parameters of balance, COP metrics, and health related quality of life in adults with spinal deformities. The results of this investigation revealed that just like radiographic parameters, COP metrics could help explain some variability in symptoms in patients with comparable extent of deformity. Chapter 3 attempted to establish a threshold value of COP metrics for binary classification of fall risk in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The findings of this study highlighted path length as an excellent predictor of future falls with high test accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. This dissertation concludes that the WBB tool has the potential to revolutionize balance and fall risk assessment in clinical fields such as geriatrics, rehabilitation, neurology, and orthopedics.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between developmental milestones of babies and the prevalence of spinal deformities in adolescents in Middelburg, Mpumalanga. The relationship between spinal deformities in a cross-sectional group of adolescents and parental recall was the focus of the study. One hundred and four adolescents were evaluated to determine if a spinal deformity was present. The subjects were then allocated to either the case (those with spinal deformities) or the control (subjects without spinal deformities) groups. The mothers of the subjects were then interviewed with regard to some of the developmental milestones of their offspring, and other factors which may have had an influence on the development of adolescent spinal deformities. The results showed that a perfectly "normal spine" was seldom found and that even in the control group some minor deviations, within normal limits, were present. Most of the mothers of subjects from the case group did not realise that their offspring had a deformity. There was a non¬significant trend for more crawlers to be present in the control group. Subjects who did not crawl, and who were also late walkers appeared to have an increased tendency to develop adolescent spinal deformities. Despite the fact that the schools approached were multi-racial, only white parents responded to the request for participation in this trial. The possible reasons for this should be investigated and a trial comparing the prevalence of spinal deformities amongst adolescents from all ethnic groups in South Africa should be conducted. Due to the possible recall bias of this study, it is recommended that a longitudinal study, commencing with the babies attending baby clinics in South Africa (representative of the South Africa population), be conducted to determine the influence of developmental milestones on the prevalence of spinal deformities in adolescence. / Dissertation (MPhysiotherapy)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Physiotherapy / unrestricted