title: Robotic intercostal nerve harvest: a feasibility study in a pig model.
abstract: The aim of this study was to report the feasibility of robotic intercostal nerve harvest in a pig model. A surgical robot, the da Vinci Model S system, was installed after the creation of 3 ports in the pig's left chest. The posterior edges of the fourth, fifth, and sixth intercostal nerves were isolated at the level of the anterior axillary line. The anterior edges of the nerves were transected at the rib cartilage zone. Three intercostal nerve harvesting procedures, requiring an average of 33 minutes, were successfully performed in 3 pigs without major complications. The advantages of robotic microsurgery for intercostal nerve harvest include elimination of physiological tremor, free movement of joint-equipped robotic arms, and amplification of the surgeon's hand motion by as much as 5 times. Robot-assisted neurolysis may be clinically useful for intercostal nerve harvest for brachial plexus reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Strasbourg, FMTS, Illkirch, France;|Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan;
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.affiliation: General and Digestive Department, University Hospital of Nancy, Nancy, France;
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Serradori
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yokohama Rosai Hospital, Yokohama, Japan;
authors.forename: Yoji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mikami
authors.affiliation: MD Anderson Center, Houston, Texas; and.
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Selber
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Strasbourg, FMTS, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Santelmo
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Strasbourg, FMTS, Illkirch, France;
authors.forename: Sybille
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Facca
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Strasbourg, FMTS, Illkirch, France;
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liverneaux
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000601:surgery; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007367:Intercostal Nerves / Q000601:surgery*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016067:Nerve Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D013909:Thorax
keywords: brachial plexus; da Vinci robot; intercostal nerve; robotic microsurgery; surgical technique; telemicrosurgery