Spatial Fidelity of Microvascular Perforating Vessels as Perceived by Augmented Reality Virtual Projections

Autologous breast reconstruction yields improved long-term aesthetic results but requires increased resources of practitioners and hospital systems. Innovations in radiographic imaging have been increasingly used to improve the efficiency and success of free flap harvest. Augmented reality affords the opportunity to superimpose relevant imaging on a surgeon's native field of view, potentially facilitating dissection of anatomically variable structures. To validate the spatial fidelity of augmented reality projections of deep inferior epigastric perforator flap-relevant anatomy, comparisons of three-dimensional (3D) models and their virtual renderings were performed by four independent observers. Measured discrepancies between the real and holographic models were evaluated.