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External Ventricular Drain Training in Medical Students Improves Procedural Accuracy and Attitudes Toward Virtual
Christina P Rossitto1, Ian C Odland1, Holly Oemke1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
World Neurosurgery
|May 6, 2023
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) training helps neurosurgery residents and students improve procedural skills. While VR shows promise for training, further improvements in model fidelity are needed for widespread adoption in neurosurgery education.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery Education
- Medical Simulation
- Virtual Reality Applications
Background:
- Neurosurgery residents face a steep learning curve during initial training.
- Virtual reality (VR) offers a potential solution through accessible and reusable anatomical models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the learning curve of medical students performing external ventricular drain placements in VR.
- To compare the proficiency of students and residents in VR simulations.
- To evaluate user attitudes toward VR training in neurosurgery.
Main Methods:
- Medical students (n=21) and neurosurgery residents (n=8) performed external ventricular drain placements in a VR environment.
- Procedural accuracy (distance to foramen of Monro) and user feedback were recorded.
- Student performance was tracked across multiple trials to identify learning curve progression.
Main Results:
- Student procedural accuracy significantly improved with VR training.
- Neurosurgery residents demonstrated higher initial proficiency than students.
- Both groups reported positive attitudes toward VR for certain aspects of training, though residents noted limitations in model fidelity and haptics.
Conclusions:
- VR training can significantly enhance procedural efficacy for novice learners, simulating aspects of resident experiential learning.
- Further advancements in VR technology, particularly in model fidelity and haptic feedback, are necessary for its full integration into neurosurgery curricula.
