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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · J Reconstr Microsurg Open 2020; 05(02): e50-e56
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1715582
Original Article

A Novel Grip-Type Microsurgical Needle Holder: Introduction and Electromyographic Evaluation

Yoshichika Yasunaga
1   Division of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Ina Central Hospital, Ina, Japan
2   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
,
Daisuke Yanagisawa
2   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
,
Erika Ohata
3   Division of Plastic Surgery, Toyama Nishi General Hospital, Toyama, Japan
,
Shunsuke Yuzuriha
2   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
,
Shoji Kondoh
1   Division of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, Ina Central Hospital, Ina, Japan
,
Kiyoshi Matsuo
2   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
4   Matsuo Plastic and Oculoplastic Surgery Clinic, Hamamatsu, Japan
› Author Affiliations Funding The authors report a grant from Nomura Medical Device Corp. during the conduct of the study.
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Abstract

Background We have newly developed a novel “grip-type” gun-shaped microsurgical needle holder that requires only finger twisting between the thumb and index finger for needle advancement. This study aimed to objectively assess whether this grip-type needle holder could reduce forearm muscle movement during microsurgical suturing as compared with a conventional pen-type needle holder by means of surface electromyography (sEMG).

Methods Extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) muscle and flexor carpi ulnaris muscle (FCU) sEMG measurements were taken during needle advancement in a microvascular anastomosis model for calculation of root mean square (RMS) values. The summed ECU and FCU RMS values were employed as indicators of forearm muscle movement and compared between the pen-type and grip-type instruments. Analyses of eight subjects and suturing in five directions by one subject were conducted.

Results The summed ECU and FCU RMS values of the grip-type holder were significantly smaller than those of the pen-type holder in comparisons of eight subjects (p < 0.05). Similarly, the summed RMS values of the grip-type holder in each of the five suturing directions were remarkably lower than those of the pen-type holder.

Conclusion The grip-type needle holder could significantly reduce forearm muscle movement as compared with a conventional pen-type holder based on objective sEMG measurements. The grip-type device appears more ideally suited for delicate microsurgical suturing, such as lymphaticovenular anastomosis or finger replantation, since the reduced forearm movement may mitigate the risk of coarse motion and hand shaking.

Keywords

needle holder - microsurgery - electromyography

Note

This study was presented in part at the 44th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery in Miyazaki, Japan, on December 7, 2017.




Publication History

Received: 16 June 2020

Accepted: 09 July 2020

Article published online:
31 August 2020

© 2020. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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