Automated Optical 3d Scanner to Assess Postoperative Edema Following Forefoot Surgery.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Postoperative edema is a common complication following forefoot surgery, impacting patient recovery.
• Traditional edema measurement methods are limited in the immediate postoperative period.
• 3D optical scanning offers a non-invasive alternative for quantifying edema.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify and monitor postoperative edema after forefoot surgery using 3D optical scanning.
• To identify risk factors associated with increased edema volume and duration.
• To establish a reliable method for tracking edema progression post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational study involving 108 patients undergoing forefoot surgery.
• Serial foot volume assessments using the UPOD-S 3D optical scanner at multiple postoperative timepoints.
• Statistical analysis using a mixed-effects multivariate model to identify predictors of edema.

Main Results:

• Operated foot volume significantly increased post-surgery, peaking at Day 21 (+78 cm³).
• Male sex, elevated BMI (≥26), and combined hallux/lesser ray procedures were independent predictors of increased edema.
• Edema volume gradually decreased by 3 months post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• 3D optical scanning is effective for monitoring postoperative edema following forefoot surgery.
• Male sex, higher BMI, and extensive surgical procedures are key risk factors for prolonged edema.
• Edema typically peaks around 3 weeks and resolves over the subsequent months.