Virtual Reality as a Learning Tool for Trainees in Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Medical Education Technology
• Surgical Simulation

Background:

• Efficacy of virtual reality (VR) for teaching complex arthroplasty procedures like unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is underexplored.
• Traditional preparation methods may not fully address the complexities of unfamiliar, multistep surgeries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if VR improves surgical competence for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) compared to traditional methods.
• To assess VR's impact on surgical performance metrics and trainee perception.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial involving 22 orthopaedic surgery trainees.
• Comparison between a VR learning module group and a traditional technique guide/video group.
• Assessment of surgical performance using time and Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) on a SawBone model.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in mean surgical time or total OSATS scores between the VR and Guide groups.
• Surgical time: Guide = 42.4 min, VR = 43.0 min (P = 0.9).
• Total OSATS: Guide = 15.7, VR = 14.2 (P = 0.59).
• High trainee acceptance: 77% found VR useful for education, 86.4% would use it for preparation.

Conclusions:

• VR training is equivalent to traditional methods for preparing trainees for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA).
• VR technology shows promise as a supplementary tool for surgical training and preparation.
• Trainee feedback indicates strong support for integrating VR into residency education.