Haptics-assisted Virtual Planning of Bone, Soft Tissue, and Vessels in Fibula Osteocutaneous Free Flaps.
Virtual surgery planning has proven useful for reconstructing head and neck defects by fibula osteocutaneous free flaps (FOFF). Benefits include improved healing, function, and aesthetics, as well as cost savings. But available virtual surgery planning systems incorporating fibula in craniomaxillofacial reconstruction simulate only bone reconstruction without considering vessels and soft tissue.


METHODS
The Haptics-Assisted Surgery Planning (HASP) system incorporates bone, vessels, and soft tissue of the FOFF in craniomaxillofacial defect reconstruction. Two surgeons tested HASP on 4 cases they had previously operated on: 3 with composite mandibular defects and 1 with a composite cervical spine defect. With the HASP stereographics and haptic feedback, using patient-specific computed tomography angiogram data, the surgeons planned the 4 cases, including bone resection, fibula design, recipient vessels selection, pedicle and perforator location selection, and skin paddle configuration.


RESULTS
Some problems encountered during the actual surgery could have been avoided as they became evident with HASP. In one case, the fibula reconstruction was incomplete because the fibula had to be reversed and thus did not reach the temporal fossa. In another case, the fibula had to be rotated 180 degrees to correct the plate and screw placement in relation to the perforator. In the spinal case, difficulty in finding the optimal fibula shape and position required extra ischemia time.


CONCLUSIONS
The surgeons found HASP to be an efficient planning tool for FOFF reconstructions. The testing of alternative reconstructions to arrive at an optimal FOFF solution preoperatively potentially improves patient function and aesthetics and reduces operating room time.
Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden; and Department of Surgical Sciences, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Pontus
P
Olsson
Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden; and Department of Surgical Sciences, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Fredrik
F
Nysjö
Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden; and Department of Surgical Sciences, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Andrés
A
Rodríguez-Lorenzo
Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden; and Department of Surgical Sciences, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Andreas
A
Thor
Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden; and Department of Surgical Sciences, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Jan-Michaél
JM
Hirsch
Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden; and Department of Surgical Sciences, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Ingrid B
IB
Carlbom