ANZIAM J.
44 (2003), 561-568
|
Determining rotational deformity in broken forearms
|
|
|
Abstract
|
To assess rotational deformity in a broken
forearm, an orthopaedic surgeon needs to
determine the amount of rotation of the radius
from one or more two-dimensional x-rays of the
fracture. This requires only simple first-year
university mathematics --- rotational
transformations of ellipses plus a little
differential calculus --- which yields a general
formula giving the rotation angle from
information obtained from an x-ray. Preliminary
comparisons with experimental results are
excellent. This is a practical problem that
may be useful to motivate the teaching of conic
sections.
|
Download the article in PDF format (size 71 Kb)
|
|
|
|