Open Access
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arch Plast Surg 2023; 50(01): 125-129
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1758768
Communication

Three-Dimensional Video Microscopy: Potential for Improved Ergonomics without Increased Operative Time?

Yasmina Samaha 
1   Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
,
Edward Ray 
1   Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
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Funding The authors have no commercial associations or financial disclosures to declare in relation to the content presented in this manuscript. No funding was received for this work.
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Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) video exoscopes are high-magnification stereo cameras that project onto monitors mounted in the operating room, viewable from different angles. Outside of plastic surgery, exoscopes have been shown to successfully improve the ergonomics of microsurgery, though sometimes with prolonged operating times. We compare a single surgeon's early experience performing free flap procedures from 2020 to 2021 using either a binocular microscope or a 3D video exoscope. Ten procedures were performed with the standard operating microscope and 8 procedures with the 3D exoscope. The microsurgeon, having minimal prior experience using an exoscope, reported less neck discomfort following the free flap procedures performed with the exoscope compared with the binocular surgical microscope. Total average operating time was comparable between the standard surgical microscope and the 3D exoscope (13.7 vs. 13.4 hours, p = 0.34). Our early experience using a 3D exoscope in place of a standard optical microscope demonstrated that the exoscope shows promise, offering an ergonomic alternative during microvascular reconstruction without increasing overall operating times. Future studies will compare free flap ischemia time between cases performed using the exoscope and the conventional binocular microscope. Medical Subject Headings authorized following words: free tissue flaps; operating rooms; ergonomics; microsurgery.

Keywords

free tissue flaps - operating room - ergonomics - microsurgery - microscopes

Authors' Contributions

Y.S. and E.R. made substantial contributions to conception and design of the study, drafting and revisions, as well as performed data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation.


Patient Consent

Patients provided written informed consent for the publication and the use of their images.




Publication History

Received: 17 April 2022

Accepted: 01 September 2022

Article published online:
06 February 2023

© 2023. The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. 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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