Abstract
Purpose Surgical simulations are becoming increasingly relevant in musculoskeletal training. They provide the opportunity to develop surgical skills in a controlled environment while reducing the risks for patients. For K-wire internal fixation in musculoskeletal surgery, a force feedback virtual reality (VR) simulator was developed. The aim of this study was to evaluate training results using ...
Abstract
Purpose Surgical simulations are becoming increasingly relevant in musculoskeletal training. They provide the opportunity to develop surgical skills in a controlled environment while reducing the risks for patients. For K-wire internal fixation in musculoskeletal surgery, a force feedback virtual reality (VR) simulator was developed. The aim of this study was to evaluate training results using this technology and compare the results with that of standard teaching on cadavers. Methods Twenty participants attending an AO Trauma Course during 2020 were randomly allo-cated in 2 groups. On day 1, group A was trained by senior surgeons using a cadaver and group B was trained by the VR simulator for K-wire insertion in the distal radius. On day 2, all participants performed K-wire insertion on the cadaver model, without assistance, to validate the training effect. Results On a surgical skills test, group B performed better than group A. In group B, the entry point of the first K-wire was closer to the targeted styloid process of the radius, and the protrusion of the K-wires into soft tissue was less than that in group A. Conclusions Training with the VR simulator for K-wire insertion resulted in better surgical skills than training by a surgeon and cadaver model.Copyright (c) 2022 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. All rights reserved.
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