China Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ›› 2022, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (1): 52-57.doi: 10.19438/j.cjoms.2022.01.010

• Original Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Clinical application of 3D printed positioning guides in assisted preparation of anterolateral thigh perforator flap

SHI Wei-hong, LIU Yan, AMANNISAHAN·Jiapaer, AYIDANA·Wulaerbieke, HE Qi, LING Bin   

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital/Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Institute of Stomatology. Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
  • Received:2021-08-04 Revised:2021-10-13 Online:2022-01-20 Published:2022-01-20

Abstract: PURPOSE: To investigate the accuracy and feasibility of using 3D-printed fixed positioning guides to locate the perforating vessels in anterolateral thigh perforator flaps. METHODS: Twenty patients who attended the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital/Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2019 to December 2020 and required anterolateral thigh perforator flap transplantation and reconstruction for oral and maxillofacial soft tissue defects were collected. Patients in the experimental group used a 3D-printed positioning guide to intraoperatively locate the perforator vessels and assist in the preparation of the anterolateral thigh perforator flap (n=8), while in patients of the control group, conventional Doppler ultrasound was used to locate the perforator vessels and assist in the preparation of an anterolateral thigh perforator flap (n=12). The two groups were compared in terms of flap preparation time, bleeding volume, postoperative donor site shape satisfaction, LEFS score, penetrating vessel localization, and the presence of postoperative flap complications. SPSS 24.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The differences in flap preparation time, bleeding volume, postoperative donor site shape satisfaction, and positioning of the penetrating vessels were statistically significant (P<0.01); the differences in postoperative flap complications and LEFS scores were not statistically significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: 3D-printed fixed positioning guide provides a new method for positioning the perforating vessels of the anterolateral thigh flap, which is more accurately locates the vessels intraoperatively, improves the surgical efficiency, and increases the patient's satisfaction with postoperative recovery of the donor site.

Key words: Anterolateral thigh perforator flap, 3D printing, CT angiography, Fixed positioning guide

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