Quantitative Assessment of Cannula Kinematics in Liposuction Surgical Procedures Using a Marker-Based Tracking System.

[PURPOSE] The aim is to develop a reliable, objective, and quantitative system for measuring and analyzing the movement of the cannula tip, which is used in liposuction.

[METHODS] The customized tracking system was designed using an infrared marker set and stereo vision. It was utilized to accurately track and quantify cannula tip movements during liposuction surgery. The accuracy of this system was validated by comparing its measurements to a commercial motion-tracking system. In addition, a new metric, the normalized cannula movement index (nCMI), was supposed to objectively assess cannula stroke cycles, quantify spatial distribution, and evaluate handling techniques. The developed tracking system exhibited excellent accuracy, with results differing by only approximately 0.9% from the commercial system, confirming its reliability and precision.

[RESULTS] This system enables quantitative comparisons of region-wise stroke distribution and stroke speed across procedures. The proposed nCMI can provide an objective, region-level descriptor of cannula handling patterns that could support comparative assessment. As a result, it can provide consistent and quantitative analysis results. Through quantitative indicators such as stroke cycle and nCMI, it is possible to effectively perform objective evaluations of the liposuction procedures and outcomes.

[CONCLUSION] Consequently, this study provides a novel tool for objective assessment of surgical techniques. It could contribute to improving surgeon training, predicting postoperative complications, and optimizing the liposuction procedure.