With the widespread adoption of low-dose CT screening and the extensive application of high-resolution CT, the detection rate of sub-centimeter lung nodules has significantly increased. How to scientifically manage these nodules while avoiding overtreatment and diagnostic delays has become an important clinical issue. Among them, lung nodules with a consolidation tumor ratio less than 0.25, dominated by ground-glass shadows, are particularly worthy of attention. The therapeutic challenge for this group is how to achieve precise and complete resection of nodules during surgery while maximizing the preservation of the patient's lung function. The "watershed topography map" is a new technology based on big data and artificial intelligence algorithms. This method uses Dicom data from conventional dose CT scans, combined with microscopic (22-24 levels) capillary network anatomical watershed features, to generate high-precision simulated natural segmentation planes of lung sub-segments through specific textures and forms. This technology forms fluorescent watershed boundaries on the lung surface, which highly fit the actual lung anatomical structure. By analyzing the adjacent relationship between the nodule and the watershed boundary, real-time, visually accurate positioning of the nodule can be achieved. This innovative technology provides a new solution for the intraoperative positioning and resection of lung nodules. This consensus was led by four major domestic societies, jointly with expert teams in related fields, oriented to clinical practical needs, referring to domestic and foreign guidelines and consensus, and finally formed after multiple rounds of consultation, discussion, and voting. The main content covers the theoretical basis of the "watershed topography map" technology, indications, operation procedures, surgical planning details, and postoperative evaluation standards, aiming to provide scientific guidance and exploration directions for clinical peers who are currently or plan to carry out lung nodule resection using the fluorescent microscope watershed analysis method.
Objective To compare the effectiveness between three-dimensional (3D) printed porous titanium alloy cage (3D Cage) and poly-ether-ether-ketone cage (PEEK Cage) in the posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). Methods A total of 66 patients who were scheduled to undergo PLIF between January 2018 and June 2019 were selected as the research subjects, and were divided into the trial group (implantation of 3D Cage, n=33) and the control group (implantation of PEEK Cage, n=33) according to the random number table method. Among them, 1 case in the trial group did not complete the follow-up exclusion study, and finally 32 cases in the trial group and 33 cases in the control group were included in the statistical analysis. There was no significant difference in gender, age, etiology, disease duration, surgical segment, and preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, complications, JOA score, intervertebral height loss, and interbody fusion were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results The operations of two groups were completed successfully. There was 1 case of dural rupture complicated with cerebrospinal fluid leakage during operation in the trial group, and no complication occurred in the other patients of the two groups. All incisions healed by first intention. There was no significant difference in operation time and intraoperative blood loss between groups (P>0.05). All patients were followed up 12-24 months (mean, 16.7 months). The JOA scores at 1 year after operation in both groups significantly improved when compared with those before operation (P<0.05); there was no significant difference between groups (P>0.05) in the difference between pre- and post-operation and the improvement rate of JOA score at 1 year after operation. X-ray film reexamination showed that there was no screw loosening, screw rod fracture, Cage collapse, or immune rejection in the two groups during follow-up. At 3 months and 1 year after operation, the rate of intervertebral height loss was significantly lower in the trial group than in the control group (P<0.05). At 3 and 6 months after operation, the interbody fusion rating of trial group was significantly better in the trial group than in the control group (P<0.05); and at 1 year after operation, there was no significant difference between groups (P>0.05). ConclusionThere is no significant difference between 3D Cage and PEEK Cage in PLIF, in terms of operation time, intraoperative blood loss, complications, postoperative neurological recovery, and final intervertebral fusion. But the former can effectively reduce vertebral body subsidence and accelerate intervertebral fusion.
ObjectiveTo analyze the application effects of artificial intelligence (AI) software and Mimics software in preoperative three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction for thoracoscopic anatomical pulmonary segmentectomy. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary segmentectomy at the Second People's Hospital of Huai'an from October 2019 to March 2024. Patients who underwent AI 3D reconstruction were included in the AI group, those who underwent Mimics 3D reconstruction were included in the Mimics group, and those who did not undergo 3D reconstruction were included in the control group. Perioperative related indicators of each group were compared. ResultsA total of 168 patients were included, including 73 males and 95 females, aged 25-81 (61.61±10.55) years. There were 79 patients in the AI group, 53 patients in the Mimics group, and 36 patients in the control group. There were no statistical differences in gender, age, smoking history, nodule size, number of lymph node dissection groups, postoperative pathological results, or postoperative complications among the three groups (P>0.05). There were statistical differences in operation time (P<0.001), extubation time (P<0.001), drainage volume (P<0.001), bleeding volume (P<0.001), and postoperative hospital stay (P=0.001) among the three groups. There were no statistical differences in operation time, extubation time, bleeding volume, or postoperative hospital stay between the AI group and the Mimics group (P>0.05). There was no statistical difference in drainage volume between the AI group and the control group (P=0.494), while there were statistical differences in operation time, drainage tube retention time, bleeding volume, and postoperative hospital stay (P<0.05). ConclusionFor patients requiring thoracoscopic anatomical pulmonary segmentectomy, preoperative 3D reconstruction and preoperative planning based on 3D images can shorten the operation time, postoperative extubation time and hospital stay, and reduce intraoperative bleeding and postoperative drainage volume compared with reading CT images only. The use of AI software for 3D reconstruction is not inferior to Mimics manual 3D reconstruction in terms of surgical guidance and postoperative recovery, which can reduce the workload of clinicians and is worth promoting.
More and more relevant research results show that anatomical segmentectomy has the same effect as traditional lobectomy in the surgical treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (diameter<2.0 cm). Segmentectomy is more difficult than lobotomy. Nowadays, with the promotion of personalization medicine and precision medicine, three-dimensional technique has been widely applied in the medical field. It has advantages such as preoperative simulation, intraoperative positioning, intraoperative navigation, clinical teaching and so on. It plays a key role in the discovery of local anatomical variation of pulmonary segment. This paper reviewed the clinical application of three-dimensional technique and briefly described the clinical application value of this technique in segmentectomy.
Objective To design a new type of three-dimensional honeycomb guide for percutaneous cannulated screw placement in femoral neck fracture and evaluate its effectiveness. Methods The clinical data of 40 patients with femoral neck fracture who met the selection criteria between June 2019 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. According to different intraoperative positioning methods, they were divided into control group (20 cases, free hand positioning screws) and study group (20 cases, new guide assisted positioning screws). There was no significant difference in gender, age, side, cause of injury, Garden classification, and time from injury to operation between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time, fluoroscopy times, guide needle puncture times, and fracture healing time of the two groups were recorded. The hip function was evaluated by Harris score at last follow-up. At immediate after operation, the following imaging indexes were used to evaluate the accuracy of screw implantation distribution: screw spacing, screw coverage area, distance from screw to cervical cortex, parallelism between screws, and screw to cervical axial deviation. Results All operations were successfully completed, and the guide needle did not penetrate the femoral neck cortex. There was no significant difference in operation time and fluoroscopy times between the two groups (P>0.05); the guide needle puncture times in the study group was significantly less than that in the control group (t=8.209, P=0.000). Imaging detection at immediate after operation showed that the screw spacing and screw coverage area in the study group were significantly greater than those in the control group (P<0.05); the distance from screw to cervical cortex, parallelism between screws, and screw to cervical axial deviation were significantly smaller than those in the control group (P<0.05). All patients were followed up 7-25 months, with an average of 19.3 months. There was no significant difference in follow-up time between the two groups (t=−0.349, P=0.729). There were 2 cases of fracture nonunion in the control group and 1 case in the study group, and the other fractures completely healed. One case of osteonecrosis of the femoral head occurred in the control group. During the follow-up, there was no complication such as vascular and nerve injury, venous thrombosis, screw penetration, withdrawal, breakage, and refracture, etc. There was no significant difference in fracture healing time and Harris score at last follow-up between the two groups (P>0.05). ConclusionThe new three-dimensional honeycomb guide has the advantages of simple structure and convenient use. It can reduce the puncture times of the guide needle and effectively improve the accuracy distribution of cannulated screw implantation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the surgical strategies and clinical efficacy of transmitral septal myectomy in the treatment of recurrent left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) after alcohol septal ablation. MethodsThe clinical data of patients with recurrent LVOTO after alcohol septal ablation from July 2020 to July 2021 in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were preoperatively evaluated by echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, cardiac computed tomography, 3D modeling and printing technology. A personalized surgical strategy was preoperatively developed according to multimodality imaging assessment, while visual exploration was performed on the digital model and simulated surgical resection was performed on the printed model. Results Two female patients were enrolled, aged 62 years and 64 years, respectively. Totally endoscopic transmitral extended myectomy was successfully performed on both patients with aortic cross-clamping time of 96 min and 85 min, respectively. LVOTO was relieved immediately (subaortic peak pressure gradient decreased from 100 mm Hg to 4 mm Hg and from 84 mm Hg to 6 mm Hg, respectively) and the mitral regurgitation significantly improved after the procedure. No patient had complete atrioventricular block or required permanent pacemaker implantation. The patients were discharged uneventfully without postoperative complications. ConclusionPersonalized totally endoscopic transmitral extended myectomy combined with multimodality imaging assessment and 3D modeling and printing has an acceptable clinical effect in patients with recurrent LVOTO after alcohol septal ablation. The procedure can precisely resect the hypertrophic septal myocardium while avoiding serious complications such as septal perforation or complete atrioventricular block.
Objective To investigate the accuracy of preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction of tumor in craniotomy for supratentorial convex brain tumors, and to provide an accurate and safe auxiliary method for craniotomy. Methods Patients with supratentorial convexity brain tumors who were admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Yibin Hospital, Sichuan University between April 2018 and November 2020 were prospectively enrolled and randomly divided into reconstruction group and control group. In the reconstruction group, preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction of the tumor was used for craniotomy positioning, while in the control group, traditional two-dimensional tomographic imaging was used. The basic conditions, intraoperative localization and tumor exposure satisfaction rate, maximum diameter of bone window, operation time, cerebral draining vein injury, and postoperative subcutaneous effusion or intracranial infection were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 43 patients were included, 22 in the reconstruction group and 21 in the control group. There was no significant differences in age, gender composition, incidence of midline shift, tumor growth site and tumor size between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of cerebral drainage vein injury and postoperative subcutaneous effusion or intracranial infection between the two groups (P>0.05). The satisfaction rate of intraoperative positioning and tumor exposure in the reconstruction group (95.5% vs. 66.7%) was higher than that in the control group, the maximum diameter of the bone window [(6.26±1.32) vs. (7.31±1.13) cm] and the operation time [(194.00±22.76) vs. (214.57±26.53) min] were lower than the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions Preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction helps to locate the tumor more accurately, improves the satisfaction rate of tumor exposure, reduces the diameter of the craniotomy window, and shortens the operation time. Compared with traditional two-dimensional tomographic positioning, it has more advantages.
In this article, we introduce the principle, describe the utilization and discuss the future development of three-dimensional printing technology for manufacturing artificial organs.
Objective To explore the feasibility and early effectiveness of computer-simulated osteotomy based on the health-side combined with guide plate technique in the treatment of cubitus varus deformity in adolescents. Methods The clinical data of 23 patients with cubitus varus deformity who met the selection criteria between June 2019 and February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 17 males and 6 females, ranging in age from 4 to 16 years with an average of 8.5 years. The time from injury to operation was 1-4 years. The angle of distal humerus rotation was defined by humeral head posterior inclination angle using low radiation dose CT to scan the patient’s upper extremity data at one time, and the preoperative rotation of the distal humerus on the affected side was (33.82±4.39)°. The CT plain scan data were imported into 9yuan3D digital orthopaedic system (V3.34 software) to reconstruct three-dimensional images of both upper extremities. The simulated operation was performed with the healthy upper extremity as the reference, the best osteotomy scheme was planned, overlapped and compared, and the osteotomy guide plate was prepared. The patients were followed up regularly after operation, and the formation of callus in the osteotomy area was observed by X-ray examination. Before and after operation, the carrying angle of both upper extremities (the angle of cubitus valgus was positive, and the angle of cubitus varus was negative) and anteversion angle were measured on X-ray and CT images. At the same time, the flexion and extension range of motion of elbow joint and the external rotation range of motion of upper extremity were measured, and Mayo score was used to evaluate the function of elbow joint. ResultsThe operation time ranged from 34 to 46 minutes, with an average of 39 minutes. All patients were followed up 5-26 months, with a mean of 14.9 months. All the incisions healed by first intention after the operation; 2 patients had nail path irritation symptoms after Kirschner wire fixation, which improved after dressing change; no complication such as breakage and loosening of internal fixators occurred after regular X-ray review. Continuous callus formed at the osteotomy end at 4 weeks after operation, and the osteotomy end healed at 8-12 weeks after operation. At last follow-up, the carrying angle, anteversion angle, external rotation range of motion, and extension and flexion range of motion of the elbow joint of the affected side significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05). Except for the extension range of motion of the healthy elbow joint (P<0.05), there was no significant difference in other indicators between the two sides (P>0.05). At last follow-up, the Mayo elbow score was 85-100, with an average of 99.3; 22 cases were excellent, 1 case was good, and the excellent and good rate was 100%. ConclusionComputer-simulated osteotomy based on health-side combined with guide plate technique for treating cubitus varus deformity in adolescents can achieve precise osteotomy, which has the advantages of short operation time and easy operation, and the short-term effectiveness is satisfactory.
ObjectiveTo compare the three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopic simulator with two-dimensional (2D) laparoscopic simulator in training of laparoscopic novices.MethodsBetween January 2018 and December 2019, surgical residents from Chinese PLA General Hospital were enrolled, which were grouped into 3D and 2D group. After receiving training program, novices in both two groups subject to performance examination, including bean-picking module, exchange module, transfer module, needle-manipulating module, and suture module. Times and errors were compared between the two groups for each module.ResultsA total of 16 novices in 3D group and 15 novices in 2D group were enrolled, and baseline characteristics including age, gender, major hand, glass wearing, laparoscopic experience, and shooting game experience were well balanced between the two groups (P>0.05). There were comparable times and errors between the two groups in terms of bean-picking module and exchange module (P>0.05). The time of transfer module and needle-manipulating module was not significant between the two groups (P>0.05), but novices in 3D group performed more precise than those in 2D group (P<0.05). In suture module, 3D group had shorter time (P=0.02) and higher accuracy (P=0.03).Conclusion3D laparoscopic simulator can shorten novice performance time in complex procedures, improve accuracy, and facilitate laparoscopic training.