Virtual reality as a learning tool in spinal anatomy and surgical techniques

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopaedics
• Medical Education

Background:

• Surgical simulation offers a safe environment for training.
• Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly used in spine surgery education.
• Existing VR tools primarily focus on instrumentation, with a gap in decompression training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a VR simulation module for learning spinal anatomy.
• To assess the educational role of VR in mastering decompressive techniques for spinal stenosis.

Main Methods:

• A custom VR simulation module was developed using patient-specific 3D lumbar spinal stenosis models.
• Orthopaedic and neurosurgery trainees used the VR toolkit for decompression practice.
• Pre- and post-module tests and questionnaires assessed learning outcomes and utility.

Main Results:

• Knowledge improvement was observed, especially in junior trainees (11.4% increase).
• 89% found the VR module useful for understanding spinal stenosis pathology.
• 71% found it helpful for comprehending decompression techniques; 96% saw utility in preoperative planning.

Conclusions:

• The VR spinal decompression simulation is well-received by trainees.
• It serves as an effective learning module for patho-anatomy and preoperative planning.
• Junior trainees particularly benefit from this VR educational tool.