Immersive Virtual Reality Training for a Junior Orthopaedic Surgery Resident

Successful orthopedic training includes mastering the orthopedic principles while developing a high level of surgical skills. Gaining experience and repetitions with these techniques can be particularly challenging for junior orthopedic residents, who typically have limited time in the operating room. There is a need to improve the education approach for junior orthopedic residents, and some residency programs have begun exploring the possibility of using virtual reality to augment orthopedic surgical training. Immersive Virtual Reality (iVR) technology is revolutionizing medical education and can potentially mitigate some of the challenges associated with traditional surgical training. This paper aims to describe how iVR training enhanced the skills of a first-year orthopedic surgery resident through a narrative review of their experiences. The resident participated in a comprehensive iVR training program (PrecisionOS™ iVR system) where the resident completed a learning curriculum of all-encompassing modules focusing on basic anatomy, surgical approaches, individual procedure techniques, and more. Utilizing iVR training allowed the resident to get real-time feedback, learn the anatomy, and also master the steps of different procedures before stepping into the operating room. The repetitive nature of iVR with the constant feedback allowed the resident to refine their technical skills, and with time, the steps became muscle memory. The resident observed a noticeable improvement in the overall efficiency and mastery in performing orthopedic procedures. From the attending’s standpoint, the guided preoperative preparation increased the trust and confidence in the resident, as the attending was able to give real-time feedback during the iVR module, making active changes and modifications. If there was a mistake made in the iVR space, it was very easy to reset the step and repeat it, and there was never any risk to the patient. In the experience of this resident, Immersive Virtual Reality (iVR) can be a helpful tool for a junior orthopedic surgery resident. It provides the resident with an opportunity to learn the surgical workflow and increase surgical efficiency in a safe and cost-effective environment.