The VirtaMed VR arthroscopy trainer
Validation of the Hip Arthroscopy Module of the VirtaMed Virtual Reality Arthroscopy trainer.
Purpose: Orthopaedic surgeons need to learn how to perform hip arthroscopy (key-hole surgery) during their training. Usually, this is a hands-on learning experience, where the registrar is taught in a step-by-step manner by their trainer. However, it would be beneficial to be able to gain experience in hip arthroscopy before this stage. One of the ways of gaining experience is by using a newly developed hip arthroscopy module of a virtual reality arthroscopy trainer, in which the different steps of hip arthroscopy can be learned. This study aimed to validate the hip arthroscopy module of the VirtaMed virtual reality arthroscopy trainer, and prove it can distinguish between different levels of experience.
Objectives: To assess whether the trainer can differentiate between different levels of surgical experience.
Results: Twenty-two participants were recruited. Six were classified as Expert and 16 as Novice. Statistically significant differences were found between the Expert and Novice groups for Overall Score (p=0.001), Safety (p=0.002) and Economy (p=0.033), but not Detailed Visualization (p=0.097). Questionnaire responses were positive for all items related to face and content validity. This study suggests that training on the ArthroS VR hip arthroscopy simulator has construct, face and content validity. It expands the evidence base for VR simulator training and is the first study to evaluate this hip arthroscopy module
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