CC BY-NC 4.0 · Arch Plast Surg 2020; 47(05): 428-434
DOI: 10.5999/aps.2020.00829
Original Article

The utility of three-dimensional models in complex microsurgical reconstruction

Division of Plastic Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
,
Division of Plastic Surgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
,
Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
,
Plastic and Hand Surgical Associates, South Portland, ME, USA
,
3D and Quantitative Imaging Lab, Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
,
3D and Quantitative Imaging Lab, Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
,
3D and Quantitative Imaging Lab, Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
,
3D and Quantitative Imaging Lab, Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
,
3D and Quantitative Imaging Lab, Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
,
Division of Plastic Surgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
› Author Affiliations

Background Three-dimensional (3D) model printing improves visualization of anatomical structures in space compared to two-dimensional (2D) data and creates an exact model of the surgical site that can be used for reference during surgery. There is limited evidence on the effects of using 3D models in microsurgical reconstruction on improving clinical outcomes.

Methods A retrospective review of patients undergoing reconstructive breast microsurgery procedures from 2017 to 2019 who received computed tomography angiography (CTA) scans only or with 3D models for preoperative surgical planning were performed. Preoperative decision-making to undergo a deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) versus muscle-sparing transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (MS-TRAM) flap, as well as whether the decision changed during flap harvest and postoperative complications were tracked based on the preoperative imaging used. In addition, we describe three example cases showing direct application of 3D mold as an accurate model to guide intraoperative dissection in complex microsurgical reconstruction.

Results Fifty-eight abdominal-based breast free-flaps performed using conventional CTA were compared with a matched cohort of 58 breast free-flaps performed with 3D model print. There was no flap loss in either group. There was a significant reduction in flap harvest time with use of 3D model (CTA vs. 3D, 117.7±14.2 minutes vs. 109.8±11.6 minutes; P=0.001). In addition, there was no change in preoperative decision on type of flap harvested in all cases in 3D print group (0%), compared with 24.1% change in conventional CTA group.

Conclusions Use of 3D print model improves accuracy of preoperative planning and reduces flap harvest time with similar postoperative complications in complex microsurgical reconstruction.

The study was presented at the PRS Korea 2018 Meeting on November 9-11, 2018, in Seoul, Korea.




Publication History

Received: 13 May 2020

Accepted: 29 July 2020

Article published online:
22 March 2022

© 2020. The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, permitting unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

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