Integration of Mixed Reality Technology Into a Global Neurosurgery Bootcamp.

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Medical Education
• Augmented Reality Technology

Background:

• International bootcamps offer vital advanced training opportunities for physicians globally.
• Access to cutting-edge technology and training is often limited in resource-scarce regions.
• Augmented reality (AR) presents a novel tool for enhancing surgical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the educational impact of integrating augmented reality (AR) into a global neurosurgery bootcamp curriculum.
• To assess how AR influences surgical approach selection and precision for trainees with limited experience.
• To determine the effectiveness of AR as a surgical adjunct in a simulated cranial tumor scenario.

Main Methods:

• AR was incorporated into a neurosurgery bootcamp in Hanoi, Vietnam, for participants with no prior AR experience.
• A study assessed surgical approach accuracy for a frontal cranial tumor before and after AR integration.
• Participant precision was measured by the distance from skull insertion point to the tumor during planning.

Main Results:

• Without AR, 66% of participants incorrectly planned the surgical approach to a frontal tumor.
• After utilizing AR for 3D visualization, 100% of participants correctly identified the surgical approach.
• AR-assisted planning resulted in a significantly shorter planned trajectory to the tumor.

Conclusions:

• Augmented reality (AR) demonstrably improves surgical education and trainee performance in neurosurgery bootcamps.
• AR enhances the visualization of complex anatomy, leading to more accurate surgical planning.
• Increased industry involvement is crucial to provide trainees in developing countries access to emerging medical technologies like AR.