Virtual reality case-specific rehearsal in temporal bone surgery: a preliminary evaluation.

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Medical Simulation
• Virtual Reality

Background:

• Temporal bone surgery requires precise anatomical understanding.
• Virtual reality (VR) simulators offer a promising platform for surgical training.
• Case-specific rehearsal can potentially improve surgical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of virtual reality (VR) temporal bone simulator for case-specific surgical rehearsal.
• To identify potential clinical applications of this VR simulation in temporal bone surgery.

Main Methods:

• A prospective assessment study involving 16 participants (trainers and trainees).
• CT scans of 24 cadaver temporal bones were uploaded to a VR simulator (Voxelman).
• Participants performed dissections on generic and case-specific models, with feasibility and usefulness assessed via Likert scale.

Main Results:

• Semi-automated CT data upload to the VR simulator was feasible (20 min average).
• Case rehearsal significantly improved confidence (75%), planning (75%), and training (94%).
• Potential applications include ossicular chain surgery, cochlear implantation, and congenital anomalies; cholesteatoma surgery requires further platform development.

Conclusions:

• Virtual reality temporal bone simulation for patient-specific surgical rehearsal is feasible.
• Further clinical evaluation is recommended to confirm benefits in selected procedures.