Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40202247›Full record

ArticleThe Laryngoscope2025

Development of a Cutting Guide for Osteocutaneous Radial Forearm Free Flap Harvest.

Carly Fassler, Michael C Topf, Alexis Miller, Whitney Jin, Juan M Colazo, Lauren Luther, Douglas Weikert, Kyle Mannion, Alexander J Langerman, Robert Sinard and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Laryngoscope, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

12 authors.

Carly FasslerDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8085-7917
Michael C TopfDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-6728-3418
Alexis MillerDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Whitney JinDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.ORCID 0009-0002-1415-0723
Juan M ColazoDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Lauren LutherDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Douglas WeikertDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Kyle MannionDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Alexander J LangermanDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Robert SinardDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Eben RosenthalDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0294-5203
Sarah RohdeDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Funding

Vanderbilt Clinical Oncology Research Career Development ProgramK12CA090625 · NCI · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · PI Debra L. Friedman, Paula Jill Hurley · 2001 to 2026
$16.9M
Augmented Reality to Guide Head and Neck Cancer SurgeryK08CA293255 · NCI · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · PI Michael Topf · 2024 to 2026
$645k
NCI NIH HHS K08 CA293255NCI NIH HHS K12 CA090625Vanderbilt Clinical Oncology Research Career Development Program K12 NCI 2K12CA090625-22A1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap (OCRFFF) is used for the reconstruction of bony head and neck defects. Being a weight-bearing bone, precise harvesting of the radius is required to maintain structural integrity, postoperative forearm function, and to prevent postoperative fracture. A radius cutting guide may allow head and neck surgeons to be more precise and confident in performing bony harvest, and may improve allocation of orthopedic specialist resources.

methodsA custom radius cutting guide was developed in an iterative process with six head and neck surgeons and one hand surgeon. Following design approval, a prospective feasibility study was conducted. Patient-specific cutting guides were created using pre-operative upper-extremity computed tomography (CT) scans. The length and cross-sectional width of harvested radius bone were measured. The length of time using the guide was recorded. Providers were surveyed to assess their perception of cutting guide utility.

resultsA total of eight patients were enrolled, and the cutting guide was used successfully in seven patients. The mean length of the radius harvested was 77.1 ± 13.8 mm. The mean cross-sectional width of the radius planned for harvest was 11.7 ± 1.7 mm. The mean width of the bone harvested was 12.1 ± 1.2 mm, with a mean difference of + 0.81 mm. The mean total time using the guide was 12.94 min (range 10.0-20.1 min). Survey respondents (n = 7) agreed that the guide did not interfere with their ability to harvest radius bone (mean response 9.0 ± 1.3) and that they would utilize the guide in practice (9.4 ± 1.1).

conclusionsPatient-specific cutting guides for OCRFFF harvest are feasible and may improve head and neck reconstructive surgeons' comfort with harvest. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3:

Indexed as

ForearmFree Tissue FlapsHead and Neck NeoplasmsPlastic Surgery ProceduresRadiusTissue and Organ HarvestingAdultAgedFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesTomography, X-Ray Computed3D printingcutting guidehead and neck reconstructive surgeryOCRFFosteocutaneous radial forearm free flapsurgical technology

Identifiers

PMID40202247
PMCPMC12371775

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.