Trainee experience in virtual reality simulation in orbital surgery.

Purpose: To demonstrate the role of Virtual Reality (VR) in orbital surgery as an educational tool for surgical trainees.

Methods: A single-center prospective study was conducted from February 2021 to April 2023. Pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans were used to create patient-specific VR models of the orbit using ImmersiveTouch Software. Accuracy of the models was qualitatively assessed by an attending oculofacial surgeon. Surveys regarding understanding of the surgical plan were distributed to trainees before the VR simulation, after its use, and following surgery.

Results: VR models were made for 28 cases, and 52 surveys were completed by residents in ophthalmology, otolaryngology, plastic surgery, and by oculofacial fellows. The VR models for 93% of the cases were rated as accurate by the attending physician. Assigned trainee tasks included measurement of an orbital fracture (n = 1, 1.9%), measurement of orbital tumors (n = 12, 23.1%), and drilling of the orbital bone to simulate an orbital decompression (n = 10, 19.2%). The tumor measurements made by trainees using the VR system were not significantly different than those recorded by the radiologists (p > 0.05). Early trainees (i.e. residents and the first year oculofacial fellow) noted significant improvement in their understanding of the pathology relative to important anatomical landmarks within the orbit after utilizing the VR models prior to surgery (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Patient-specific VR models accurately simulate orbital pathology and may improve trainees' understanding of orbital anatomy early in their careers.