Effects of anatomical variation on trainee performance in a virtual reality temporal bone surgery simulator

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Education
• Virtual Reality Simulation

Background:

• Cochlear implant surgery requires precise anatomical understanding.
• Virtual reality (VR) offers a safe platform for surgical training.
• The impact of anatomical variation in VR surgical training is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the significance of anatomical variation in virtual reality cochlear implant surgery training.
• To determine if practicing on diverse temporal bone anatomies enhances surgical skill acquisition.

Main Methods:

• Eleven otolaryngology residents were randomized to practice VR cochlear implant surgery on identical or varied temporal bone specimens for four weeks.
• Performance was assessed on standard and challenging specimens using a validated scale by blinded consultants.
• Surgical skill scores were compared between residents who trained on the same versus different anatomical specimens.

Main Results:

• Residents training on varied anatomies (experimental group) showed significantly higher scores in round window preparation on standard specimens compared to those training on identical specimens (control group) (p=0.01).
• On challenging specimens, the experimental group achieved superior scores in instrument handling and facial nerve preservation compared to the control group (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

• Training with anatomical variations in virtual reality enhances cochlear implant surgical skills.
• Exposure to differing temporal bone anatomies is crucial for developing surgical expertise in otolaryngology residents.