Injuries to the Craniocervical Junction: A 3D Approach to Resident Education for Radiological Imaging

Injuries to the craniocervical junction (CCJ) are notoriously challenging to diagnose on imaging, often misdiagnosed or overlooked, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Difficulties in visualizing anatomy and a lack of learning materials illustrate the need for clear, accessible resources for residents. This study's purpose was to create novel visual training resources and assess the effectiveness of still images and animated multimedia resources to determine which was most effective in helping residents learn CCJ injuries and which was more engaging.

We created still images and an animation of a CCJ injury that related a 3D model to computed tomography/MR imaging. We tested its efficacy using a Qualtrics survey distributed to medical students and trainees involved in the treatment and diagnosis of CCJ injuries. Participants were randomized into two groups- still images and still images + animation. Participants completed a pre-test, viewed a module, and completed an engagement survey, post-test, and comparison survey.

We tested 56 participants. There was significant improvement (p = 0.000064) between pre- and post-test scores for both still images and still images + animation groups. Animation did not significantly affect learning (p = 0.52) or engagement (p = 0.18), suggesting animation neither helped nor harmed learning or engagement. When participants were asked if they prefer learning from still images or still images + animation, still images + animation was favored by 66.07% for knowledge retention and 69.64% for engagement.

As a learning tool, the combination of animations and still images can enhance engagement and conceptual understanding.