Augmented Reality Microsurgery: Proof of Concept for a Novel Approach to Microsurgical Field Visualization in Plastic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Microsurgery is conducted on tiny anatomical structures such as blood vessels and nerves. Over the past few decades, little has changed in the way plastic surgeons visualize and interact with the microsurgical field. New advances in augmented reality (AR) technology present a novel method for microsurgical field visualization. Voice- and gesture-based commands can be used in real time to adjust the size and position of a digital screen. Surgical decision support and/or navigation may also be used. The authors assess the use of AR in microsurgery. METHODS: The video feed from a Leica Microsystems OHX surgical microscope was streamed to a Microsoft HoloLens2 AR headset. A fellowship-trained microsurgeon and three plastic surgery residents then performed a series of four arterial anastomoses on a chicken thigh model using the AR headset, a surgical microscope, a video microscope (or "exoscope"), and surgical loupes. RESULTS: The AR headset provided an unhindered view of the microsurgical field and peripheral environment. The subjects remarked on the benefits of having the virtual screen track with head movements. The ability of participants to place the microsurgical field in a tailored comfortable, ergonomic position was also noted. Points of improvement were the low image quality compared with current monitors, image latency, and the lack of depth perception. CONCLUSIONS: AR is a useful tool that has the potential to improve microsurgical field visualization and the way surgeons interact with surgical monitors. Improvements in screen resolution, latency, and depth of field are needed.

Analysis of Narcotic Use in Isolated Facial Fractures: Potential Targets for a Narcotic Reduction Protocol.

ABSTRACT: Anecdotal evidence suggests that patients with isolated traumatic facial fractures have high narcotic usage, yet there is a lack of literature delineating this relationship. This study aimed to characterize total amount and factors predictive of narcotic usage following isolated traumatic facial fracture. Study participants (n = 35) were predominantly male (91.4%), mean age 40.5, Caucasian (34.3%), suffered some form of assault (62.9%), and remained hospitalized for an average of 3.0 days. Average morphine milligram equivalent (MME) use in the inpatient setting was 967.6 for operative (n = 30) and 37.5 for nonoperative (n = 5) patients. Average total narcotic use across inpatient and outpatient settings was 1256.6 MME for operative and 105 MME for nonoperative patients. Operative intervention predicted a significant difference in total inpatient narcotic usage (P = 0.009). For patients who underwent surgical intervention, significant variations in narcotic usage were found based on mechanism of injury (24-hour postoperative, P = 0.030), but not injury severity or number of procedures. Specifically, individuals suffering highly traumatic fractures (eg, gunshot wound) demonstrated increased total postoperative narcotic usage of 1194.1 MME (P = 0.004). Interestingly, non-narcotic analgesic use including acetaminophen and lidocaine-epinephrine resulted in significantly lower narcotic usage in the postoperative setting. These findings suggest a role for narcotic-reducing enhanced recovery after surgery protocols in the setting of isolated facial trauma.