Autologous Ear Reconstruction: A Semi-Automatic Procedure for Patient-Specific Surgical Guides

Abstract Autologous ear reconstruction, i.e. the reconstruction of the outer ear from autologous cartilage tissue, is a very important surgery considering the psychosocial repercussions of an individual affected by microtia (i.e. the total or partial absence of the outer ear). The execution of this surgery can be very complex due to the unique characteristics of this anatomical region. In order to help the surgeon in the process of cutting and suturing, innovative surgical guides were designed that can transmit information about the shape and size of the anatomy to be reconstructed. This work lays the foundation for the creation of a semi-automatic and easy-to-use tool for the modeling of surgical guides. The goal is to make the hospital staff autonomous in the creation of instruments that can be used in pre-surgical simulation and during surgery.