Through the HoloLens™ looking glass: augmented reality for extremity reconstruction surgery using 3D vascular models with perforating vessels
Since precision and planning are key to reconstructive surgery, the importance of augmented reality has been rising. It can bring the information within preoperative computed tomography angiography to life, allowing the surgeon to ‘see through’ the patient’s skin and appreciate the underlying anatomy without making a single incision. This study demonstrates that AR can assist the accurate identification, dissection and execution of vascular pedunculated flaps during reconstructive surgery.
Key points:
• Augmented reality can demonstrate subsurface vascular anatomy before incisions are made.
• Manual alignment is sufficiently fast and accurate to guide the operative incision.
• Automated registration would further open access of the HoloLens in clinical use.
Authors: Philip Pratt, Matthew Ives, Graham Lawton, Jonathan Simmons, Nasko Radev, Liana Spyropoulou and Dimitri Amiras