Orthopaedic Surgery in the Metaverse: Current Data on Virtual-Reality Based Training

• DOI: 10.5195/ijms.2023.2323
• Publication Date: 2024-01-18T15:18:52Z
• Authors: Mitchell T. Tingey; Parker R. Taylor
• Keywords: Medicine (General); 03 medical and health sciences; R5-920; 0302 clinical medicine; Medical Education; Orthopaedics; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Global Health; Virtual reality; Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND: Immersive, realistic, and low-risk training has long been ideal for skill-based disciplines such as surgery. Recent advances in virtual reality technology have led to development of surgical software with the goal provide experience without risk. The aim this review is summarize current data reality-based orthopaedic surgery evaluate how beneficial may become educational circumstances. METHODS: A literature was completed analyzing eight randomized controlled trials between 2019 2022 effect on education medical students residents. Each trial included groups learners that were trained a specific procedure standard methods (“control”) or (“VR group”). Subjects then evaluated completion procedures real-life models. Procedures total hip arthroplasty (n=2), tibial intramedullary nail slipped capital femoral epiphysis pinning unicompartmental knee (n=2). primary metrics assessed time complete objective assessment scores. Secondarily survey results regarding subjects’ perceived utility training. RESULTS: 168 subjects (medical n=68, residents n=100) across 8 different trials. All at least one it found overall, VR group performed 19.9% better than control average (19.875 ± 18.324, 95% CI). Seven reported procedure, which overall 12% faster (12 10.988, Subjective measures showed over 70% learning be “helpful” “useful”. CONCLUSION: Early studies emerging field are promising. When looking procedures, perform well, if not better, method learners. Inclusion practice school curricula residency lead less errors, increased knowledge more efficient scenarios. This potential impact extends beyond well-resourced institutions, can cost-effective accessible alternative low-income low-resource areas world, democratizing access high-quality education. Continued research translation into clinical warranted, bridge disparities improve outcomes global scale.