Digital surface scanning in flap perfusion

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Surgical Innovation
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Monitoring vascular perfusion is critical in reconstructive surgery to prevent flap failure.
• Early detection of vascular compromise is essential for successful tissue transplantation.
• Current methods for monitoring perfusion can be invasive or lack objectivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a digital surface scanner in detecting vascular perfusion disorders.
• To assess the scanner's ability to monitor skin color changes indicative of compromised blood flow.
• To determine if the scanner can differentiate between arterial and venous vascular issues.

Main Methods:

• 160 forearm skin surface scans were performed using a TRIOS 3D scanner.
• Vascular compromise was simulated via intermittent arterial and venous blood supply occlusion.
• Skin color changes were analyzed using hue, saturation, and value (HSV) color scale.
• Paired t-tests were used to analyze color differences between normal and compromised skin.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in skin color were observed between normal and vascularly compromised skin (P<0.01).
• The digital surface scanner successfully distinguished between arterial occlusion and venous congestion (P<0.01).
• Objective, quantifiable color data correlated with simulated perfusion deficits.

Conclusions:

• Digital surface scanning is a viable, non-invasive method for monitoring skin perfusion.
• This technology offers an objective tool for early detection of vascular compromise in reconstructive surgery.
• The TRIOS 3D scanner shows promise in enhancing the safety and success rates of flap surgeries.