Face and content validation of a virtual reality temporal bone simulator.

Area of Science:

• Medical Simulation
• Surgical Education
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Temporal bone dissection is a critical skill in otolaryngology.
• Traditional training methods rely on cadavers, which have limitations.
• Virtual reality simulators offer a potential alternative for surgical training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the VOXEL-MAN TempoSurg virtual reality simulator for temporal bone dissection.
• To assess its realism, training effectiveness, and user experience.
• To determine its utility as an adjunct to existing surgical training.

Main Methods:

• Prospective international study involving 85 otolaryngology participants (trainers and trainees).
• Standardized temporal bone dissection task performed on the VOXEL-MAN TempoSurg simulator.
• Evaluation of realism, training effectiveness, and global impressions using a 5-point Likert scale.

Main Results:

• The simulator was rated user-friendly (mean score 4.1) and simulation training scored highly (mean score 4.3).
• Participants found surgical anatomy, drill navigation, and hand-eye coordination aspects beneficial.
• Trainees were more likely to recommend the simulator than trainers (P = .01), though realism and skill transferability were rated lower.

Conclusions:

• The VOXEL-MAN TempoSurg simulator is a useful adjunct for temporal bone dissection training, especially for novices.
• Improvements in realism, particularly drill ergonomics and visual-spatial perception, are needed.
• The simulator can enhance surgical education before cadaveric dissection.