Time and cost-analysis of virtual surgical planning for head and neck reconstruction: A matched pair analysis

Virtual surgical planning (VSP) uses patient-specific modelling of the facial skeleton to provide a tailored surgical plan which may increase accuracy and reduce operating time. The aim of this study was to perform a time and cost-analysis comparing patients treated with and without VSP-technology.

A retrospective analysis of 138 patients undergoing microvascular free flap mandible (76.8%) or maxillary (23.2%) reconstruction between 2010 and 2018 was performed. The cohort was divided into two groups according to reconstruction-approach: non-VSP and proprietary-VSP (P-VSP). Cost-analysis was performed comparing non-VSP and P-VSP by matching patients according to site, bone flap, indication, complexity and age.

Fibula, scapula and iliac crest free flaps were used in 92 patients (66.7%), 33 patients (23.9%) and 13 patients (9.4%), respectively. Eight patients (5.8%) required revision of the microvascular anastomosis, of which four flaps were salvaged giving a 2.9% flap failure rate. P-VSP was associated with shorter median length of stay (LOS) (10.0 vs 13.0 days, p = 0.009), lower mean procedure time (507.38 vs 561.75 min, p = 0.042), and similar median total cost ($34939.00 vs $34653.00, p = 0.938), despite higher complexity (2.0 vs 1.0, p = 0.09). In the matched-series, P-VSP was associated with a similar median LOS (10.5 vs 11 days), lower mean procedure time (497 vs 555 min, p = 0.231), lower mean total cost ($35,493 v $37,345) but higher median total cost ($35504.50 vs $32391.50, p = 0.607), although not statistically different.

VSP-technology represents a helpful surgical tool for complex reconstructions, without adversely impacting on the overall-cost of treatment.