Clinical Applications of Augmented Reality Technology in Microsurgical Planning of Head and Neck Reconstruction.

Background To perform head and neck reconstruction, the exact location of recipient vessels must be evaluated preoperatively. This study aimed to superimpose arterial and venous pathways identified by computed tomography angiography (CTA) on patients using augmented reality (AR) techniques to freely select recipient vessels. Methods Patients who underwent reconstructive microsurgery due to defects on the scalp, forehead, and glabella from July 2019 to October 2019 were enrolled. The superficial temporal artery (STA) and superficial temporal vein (STV) were marked using hand-held Doppler. Furthermore, the three-dimensional reconstructed CTA image was superimposed on the patient's face using a smartphone application, Camera-Lucida, and marked. The accuracy of mapping was evaluated intraoperatively. Success rates and the time consumed for mapping were compared. Results Twelve patients underwent preoperative marking. Success rates of STA mapping using the AR technology and hand-held Doppler were 100% and 83%, respectively (P = 0.48). The mean time consumed for STA marking was 90.2 ± 17.7 seconds and 121.0 ± 117.7 seconds, respectively (P = 0.75). The success rate of STV marking with the AR technology was superior to that with hand-held Doppler (100% versus 58.3%; P = 0.037). STV marking was faster with the AR technology than with hand-held Doppler (mean time, 91.2 ± 25.7 seconds versus 94.5 ± 101.6 seconds; P = 0.007). Conclusions The AR technology could be the paradigm shift in the field of microsurgical reconstruction. It can connect three-dimensional CTA data with patient topography, leading to not only more precise operations but also improved outcomes in patients undergoing microsurgical reconstruction.