The role of virtual reality simulation in surgical training in the light of COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, surgical training has become increasingly challenging due to required social distancing. Therefore, the use of virtual reality (VR)-simulation could be a helpful tool for imparting surgical skills, especially in minimally invasive environments. Visual spatial ability (VSA) might influence the learning curve for laparoscopic surgical skills. However, little is known about the influence of VSA for surgical novices on VR-simulator training regarding the complexity of different tasks over a long-term training period. Our study evaluated prior VSA and VSA development in surgical trainees during VR-simulator training, and its influence on surgical performance in simulator training. Methods: In our single-center prospective two-arm randomized trial, VSA was measured with a tube figure test before curriculum training. After 1:1 randomization, the training group (TG) participated in the entire curriculum training consisting of 48 different VR-simulator tasks with varying difficulty over a continuous nine-day training session. The control group (CG) performed two of these tasks on day 1 and 9. Correlation and regression analyses were used to assess the influence of VSA on VR-related surgical skills and to measure procedural abilities. Results: Sixty students (33 women) were included. Significant improvements in the TG in surgical performance and faster completion times were observed from days 1 to 9 for the scope orientation 30° right-handed (SOR), and cholecystectomy dissection tasks after the structured 9-day training program. After training, the TG with pre-existing low VSA scores achieved performance levels similar to those with pre-existing high VSA scores for the two VR simulator tasks. Significant correlations between VSA and surgical performance on complex laparoscopic camera navigation SOR tasks were found before training. Conclusions: Our study revealed that that all trainees improved their surgical skills irrespective of previous VSA during structured VR simulator training. An increase in VSA resulted in improvements in surgical performance and training progress, which was more distinct in complex simulator tasks. Further, we demonstrated a positive relationship between VSA and surgical performance of the TG, especially at the beginning of training. Our results identified pre-existing levels of VSA as a predictor of surgical performance.

Ten Years of TeleHealth and Digital Healthcare: Where Are We?

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a real training ground in this field and an unexpected growth stimulus never experienced before, with the consolidation of ancient areas and the exploration of new areas. Furthermore, even in TH and DH, one can currently count on the use of emerging technologies, such as robotics [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], augmented reality [ 28 ], virtual reality [ 29 ], and artificial intelligence [ 30 , 31 ]. Moreover, assistive technologies have played a strategic role during the pandemic as they were consolidated in the context of different applications and disabilities relating communication and motion [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ].…”

Surgical Training Simulators for Rhinoplasty: A Systematic Review

“…7 They have been repeatedly shown to improve surgical skills in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) 8 and across other specialties. 9,10 Simulator training results in a significant improvement in surgical performance and reduced operative time, demonstrating transferability of acquired skills through simulation training to the operating room. 11 For example, urology trainees who trained with simulators achieved higher scores in objective structured assessment of clinical skills with fewer total complications compared with their colleagues who received conventional operating room training.…”

The Use of Virtual Reality in the Rehabilitation of Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain

“…VR technology has been shown to be effective for pain management, posttraumatic stress disorder, rehabilitation, addiction, and surgical education. [11][12][13][14][15] There is little literature available on the effectiveness of treatment of CNNP, and even less on VR as a potential rehabilitative treatment option. 16 Therefore, the objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the quality of the current literature on VR interventions for the treatment of CNNP, evaluate the effectiveness of the VR intervention, and identify gaps to guide future research.…”

“…There has been increasing interest in the use of virtual reality (VR) for health care applications. VR technology has been shown to be effective for pain management, posttraumatic stress disorder, rehabilitation, addiction, and surgical education 11–15 . There is little literature available on the effectiveness of treatment of CNNP, and even less on VR as a potential rehabilitative treatment option 16 …”