Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34604076›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in oncology2021

The Learning Curve of Computer-Assisted Free Flap Jaw Reconstruction Surgery Using 3D-Printed Patient-Specific Plates: A Cumulative Sum Analysis.

Wang-Yong Zhu, Wing Shan Choi, May Chun Mei Wong, Jingya Jane Pu, Wei-Fa Yang, Yu-Xiong Su

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in oncology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed
2.5field-weighted citation impact, top 10% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed, 15 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Experience with patient-specific guides, insteatientad of general surgical experience, improves the accuracy of 3D-guided corrective osteotomies.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Wang-Yong ZhuDivision of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Wing Shan ChoiDivision of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
May Chun Mei WongDivision of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Jingya Jane PuDivision of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Wei-Fa YangDivision of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Yu-Xiong SuDivision of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
University of Hong Kong · HK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundComputer-assisted jaw reconstruction (CAJR) has benefits in reducing operation time and improving reconstruction accuracy, compared to conventional freehand jaw reconstruction. However, no information is available regarding learning curves in CAJR with the use of 3D-printed patient-specific surgical plates (PSSP). The purpose of this study was to assess surgical outcomes and learning curve for the first 58 consecutive CAJR using 3D-printed PSSP performed by a single surgical team in a single institution.

methodsIn a prospective study, consecutive patients who underwent free flap CAJR using 3D-printed PSSP were included. The determination of proficiency, based on the cumulative sum of surgical success (no major adjustment of 3D-printed PSSP, flap survival) passing the acceptable boundary line of cumulative sum analysis, was the primary outcome. To find out any potential factors influencing the learning curve, baseline characteristics of patients were compared before and after proficiency achievement. Secondary outcomes included inflexion points of the total operation time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, and bone graft deviation, measured by the cumulative sum analysis.

resultsFrom December 2016 to November 2020, 58 consecutive cases underwent surgery performed by a single surgical team. The overall surgical success rate was 94.8% (55/58). A three-stage learning curve of primary outcome was observed. The proficiency was achieved after 23 cases. The proportions of advanced tumor staging and concomitant surgery after obtaining proficiency were significantly higher than those before achieving proficiency (

conclusionOur results revealed a three-stage learning curve of CAJR with the use of PSSP, including initial learning, plateau, and overlearning. Based on CUSUM analysis, the surgical proficiency was achieved after 23 cases, and total operation time, length of hospital stay, and bone graft deviation stabilized after 8-17 cases.

Indexed as

computer-assisted jaw reconstructioncumulative sum analysislearning curvepatient-specific surgical platethree-dimensional printing technologyvirtual surgical planning

Identifiers

PMID34604076
PMCPMC8481918
OpenAlexW3199060714

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.