Objective:To investigate the clinical value of the free fibula flap transplantation in repair of the defect of tibia and soft tissue with the help of augmented reality (AR) technology.Methods:From May, 2017 to May, 2019, 9 patients with tibial and soft tissue defects were treated. Before operation, CTA scan was performed on both shanks to obtain DICOM data of tibial bone defect. Images of the designed fibular flap and its blood supply model were imported into Sina software through computer virtual surgery assistant technology. With the AR technology, information of virtual fibula flap were projected onto the body surface at the donor site, and the operation was carried out under the precise positioning. In this group, the free fibular flap was harvested with an area of 6.0 cm×4.0 cm-12.0 cm×6.0 cm and the length of fibula was 6.0-13.5 cm. The free fibula flap were used to repair the tibial defect with 5.0-12.0 cm in length and soft tissue defect area at 5.0 cm×3.0 cm-10.0 cm×4.5 cm. Patients were followed-up to observe the survival of fibular flap and the functional recovery of the repaired lower limb, and evaluate the clinical effect.Results:All the fibular flaps survived without vascular crisis and without serious complications occurred at both of donor and recipient sites. After 8-12 months of follow-up, the flap was soft in texture and good in blood supply. The appearance of the repair site was not bloated. Callus began to form at the junction of fibula and tibia at 3-5 months and healed well in 8-12 months. No bone resorption, nonunion, loosening or falling off of screws were found. There was no pain in the shank of the recipient area. Patients could stand and walk freely, and the weight-bearing function was close to normal. According to Enneking system, the average score was 27 points; 7 cases were excellent and 2 cases were good.Conclusion:Application of AR technology in the repair of tibial bone defect with fibular flap transplantation has good clinical effect and has certain practical value.

Objective To evaluate the value of 3D printing technology to assist in the repair of severe damage to the radial side hand.Methods From March,2014 to September,2016,there were 9 cases suffered from varying degrees of metacarpal and phalangeal bones injuries with soft tissue destruction at the radial side of the hand.The donor and recipient areas were scanned by 64 row spiral CT before operation.Three dimensional images were obtained by CTA 3D reconstruction technology.Preoperative plan was designed by using Mirror image technology and Virtual surgery aided design technique of Mimics software virtual surgery aided design system.Nine cases were treated with first toe toenail flap with dorsal foot flap combined with second phalangeal bone transplantation to reconstruct thumb and anterolateral thigh perforator flap to repair the wound.The cutting area of the dorsalis pedis flap and anterolateral thigh perforator flaps ranged from 4.0 cm × 5.5 cm to 6.5 cm × 9.5 cm and from 9.5 cm ×17.0 cm to 12.0 cm × 25.5 cm,respectively.Postoperative followed-up was performed to evaluate the effect of the operation.Results All 9 thumbs and flaps survived after the operation.Postoperative followed-up time ranged from 8 to 16 months.The appearance of reconstructed thumb was close to normal,and the two-point discrimination was from 8.0 to 11.0 mm.According to the evaluation criteria of upper limb function of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences,7 cases were excellent and 2 cases were good.The survival flaps had soft texture,good blood circulation and satisfactory appearance at the repaired site.Conclusion 3D printing technology assists thumb reconstruction and wound repair for severe damage to the radial side of the hand with good clinical results.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility and clinical effects of the application of augmented reality (AR) navigation on assisted design of the chimeric twin-paddled anterolateral thigh perforator flap (ALTPF) in reconstruction of soft tissue defects in extremities.Methods:From June 2017 to June 2023, 8 patients with soft tissue defects in extremities received reconstruction of chimeric twin-paddled ALTPF designed with the assistance of AR navigation in Department of Hand & Foot Microsurgery Orthopaedics, Guigang City People’s Hospital. All of them were traffic accidents or machine injuries, with 3 cases of calf, 2 cases of ankle, 1 case of foot, and 2 cases of hand defects. All the wounds were wide or irregular (defect sized 14 cm×14 cm-25 cm×13 cm). The images of bilateral thighs were acquired by CT angiography preoperatively. The dominant side and dominant perforators were selected. Three dimensional reconstruction was performed by Mimics software. AR technology was applied to guide the design and harvest of the chimeric twin-paddled ALTPF. Flap area was 15 cm × 16 cm to 26 cm × 14 cm. The donor site was sutured directly. Follow-up with outpatient visits or WeChat images and videos at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively to record the appearance, colour, texture, recurrence of infection, and knee extension function of the flap donor site.Results:According to the preoperative design, the perforator flaps were harvested and transferred in all the 8 patients. All flaps survived and the recipient and donor sites healed in one stage. All patients entered postoperative follow-up for 3 to 12 (mean, 8.6)months. The colour and texture of the flaps were excellent, and the appearance of donor and recipient sites was satisfactory. Two patients with hand injuries were evaluated using the brief Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ), with scores of 43.74 and 81.25, respectively. Six patients with lower limb injuries were evaluated using the Maryland foot score, with scores of 2 excellent, 3 good and 1 fair.Conclusion:The application of AR navigation can effectively assist the design of a chimeric twin-paddled ALTPF. It also provides an effective basis for clinical personalised flap design.

To explore the value of CTA combined augmented reality(AR) navigation in tongue re-construction with free anterolateral thigh perforator (ALTP) flaps. Methods From December, 2016 to December, 2018, 9 cases of tongue cancer patients were treated with lingual reconstruction with the free ALTP flap. The domi-nant perforator was selected according to CTA before operation. The origin, course, locations at the level passing through the fascia lata of the perforators and digital flaps were located and marked under the guidance of AR naviga-tion technology. The flaps area were 6 cm×8 cm-8 cm×12 cm, and the donor sites were closed directly. The effect of the AR navigation was explored intraoperatively.The function of reconstructed tongue and donor site were followed-up 3 to 6 months postoperatively. Results All navigation-positioned perforators were confirmed by AR preoperatively. Intraoperative exploration showed that the perforators were accurately located. All flaps survived, and no vascular cri-sis occurred. The donor sites healed primarily with linear scars. The tongue was plump, and the function of voice and swallowing were favorable. Conclusion CTA combined AR navigation has the advantages of accurate location, easy to use and low cost in tongue reconstruction with free ALTP flaps.It is a worthy method to be popularized.

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of augmented reality (AR) technology combined with Doppler ultrasound in repairing soft tissue defects around ankle with posterior tibial artery perforator flap.Methods:From June, 2017 to June, 2020, 13 patients with soft tissue defects around ankle were repaired with the posterior tibial artery perforator flap sized 3.0 cm×7.0 cm-5.0 cm×10.0 cm. Preoperative CTA scan was performed to obtain the 3-dimensional image of the blood supply of the donor site. The origin and direction of blood supply, length of pedicle, diameter and the location of perforator were determined. An image fusion software based on Android mobile phone was used from the body surface to realize the navigation by AR, and to mark the locations of the points where blood vessels ran and passed by. At the same time, Doppler ultrasound was employed to confirm the navigation. The optimal puncture fulcrum was used as the flap rotation point in design of the flap. After the flap had been designed, the flap was harvested and the defect was repaired. Outpatient clinic follow-up was performed to evaluate the survival of flap and the function of ankle.Results:All 13 flaps survied without vascular issues. After 6-16 (average 10) months follow-up, all flaps survived. The flaps appeared soft with good blood supply. The colour of the repaired sites were basically the same as normal skin. According to American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) , the ankle function was excellent in 9 patients and good in 4 patients. There was no obvious scar formation on the donor sites.Conclusion:The application of AR technology combined with Doppler ultrasound in the surgical planning of posterior tibial artery perforator flap has advantages in easy to operate in clinical practice. It can reduce the risk of surgery, and has significance in clinical practice.