Osso VR’s training platform is currently being used by a number of healthcare centers around the world.
Researchers working out of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland recently conducted a study detailing how VR could be a more effective tool for surgical training compared to conventional reading and video methods as well as a practical alternative to physical simulation.
Published in the Journal of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons Global Research & Reviews, the study, “Evaluation of a Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis Virtual Reality Surgical Simulation for the Orthopaedic Trainee“ had 21 orthopaedic trainees (9 junior residents & 12 senior medical students) using Osso VR’s medical training platform to perform a slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) screw fixation procedure in VR.
Participants were graded on a variety of assessments, including surgical time, screw accuracy, radiographic accuracy, surgical technique, and more. The results were fairly surprising, with VR training being subjectively higher-rated than conventional reading and video methods.
At the same time, researchers saw similar performance outcomes when compared to physical simulation, despite some initial concerns by the team.
“Although practicing with a physical SCFE model may be the most realistic method to train novice surgeons, VR training modules within Osso VR seem to yield similar radiographic accuracy and surgical technique performance while offering a more convenient method to practice surgical skills which is extremely valuable,” said study co-author Dr. Dawn LaPorte, Vice Chairman of Education and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, in an official release.
“Like many surgeons, I initially assumed that physical force feedback would generate significant gains in skill transfer when used in simulation. However when I looked into the literature in the vast majority of studies there seems to be no difference in skill transfer, which this study further supports and reinforces,” added Justin Barad, MD, CEO, and Co-founder of Osso VR. “With modern virtual reality and cutaneous haptics we have the opportunity to bring affordable, portable, and effective simulation to every single surgeon around the world.”
Osso VR’s virtual training platform is currently being used by a number of hospitals and healthcare centers. This past March, the company secured an additional $66 million in funding for expanding its platform. For more information on the company and its offerings visit here.
Image Credit: Osso VR
