3D digital anatomy modelling - Practical or pretty?
Ellen Murgitroyd1, Marta Madurska2, Jasmina Gonzalez2
1General Surgery, Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy, Hayfield Road, Kirkcaldy, KY2 5AH, United Kingdom.
Summary
Digital anatomy models offer convenience and user satisfaction for medical education, complementing traditional methods. While promising for patient education and surgical planning, their practicality requires further exploration.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy Education
- Medical Technology
- Digital Learning
Background:
- The increasing digitalization of medical education prompts questions about the role of digital anatomy teaching versus traditional cadaveric dissection.
- Cadaveric dissection has benefits but limitations, including resource constraints and the need for home study options, which digital tools may address.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on the suitability of digital anatomy models for teaching.
- To explore wider applications of 3D digital anatomy models in postgraduate teaching, patient education, and surgical planning.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on the use of digital models in anatomy education.
- Exploration of applications in patient education and surgical planning.
Main Results:
- Scattered examples show positive outcomes in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, primarily user satisfaction and convenience.
- Exploration of 3D modeling for patient education and surgical planning is less developed, with discussions on practicality, time investment, and technology availability.
Conclusions:
- 3D digital anatomy serves as a valuable adjunct to traditional teaching methods.
- The potential of 3D digital anatomy in patient education and surgical planning warrants further investigation.
