How Technology Is Changing Surgical Training In 2023
Surgical training is evolving, with a new wave of tools and approaches for people to utilize to master procedures. While human cadavers remain the gold standard in training, we’re seeing a shift with new advancements allowing more surgeons to obtain the practical skills they need in the field.
How Technology Is Changing Surgical Training
The following are a few of the technologies that are changing the “face” of surgical training.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) has been in use in surgeries since at least 2016. This year is of great importance because it was the first time VR was used in a hospital. Students can use this technology to:
Enter the OR without being there physically
Practice procedures
Many in the industry see VR as the future of surgical procedures.
Augmented Reality
Augmented reality (AR) is different than its VR counterpart because of its ability to help students visualize procedures. For example, when training or performing a procedure, AR can help students:
Visualize tumors, spinal cords and other areas of the body
Interact with organs and tissues in 3D space
AR and VR are being added into advanced training models to offer students “3D vision,” allowing them to train in an immersive environment like never before. Patients can have their medical history turned into a visual experience for the training surgeon so that they can engage in a mixed reality experience as a class.
Training using mixed reality can help students gain the clinical experience they need by transforming their knowledge into real-world surgical examples.
3D Printing
3D printing has the potential to change the way surgeons think about surgery. In China, doctors successfully printed a full-sized model of the heart of a baby born with a heart defect. The model allowed the surgeons to pre-plan the procedure. The child lived and had no lasting ill effects.
For training purposes, 3D printing can be used to provide students with an alternative to living humans. The technology is so advanced that it can produce replicas of organs that look, feel and even bleed like the real thing.
3D medical training models allow students to better understand human anatomy and train on realistic models.
Training Simulators with Tactile Elements
AR and VR have revolutionized the surgical training landscape. While they provide a safe space for training and certainly have their place, these training systems are missing one key element – the feel of surgery.
New technology is helping address this issue. Today, training can include simulators that have a more tactile element.
VirtaMed, for example, creates anatomical rubber models of body parts that surgeons can use to practice arthroscopic operations. Inside of these anatomical models are bone structures, so practicing surgeons can feel the pressure of an instrument hitting bone.
Training systems that have tactile elements can help create a more realistic simulation of surgery and better prepare surgeons for the OR.
Technology continues to shape the healthcare industry, and that includes the surgical training sphere. From virtual reality to augmented reality and 3D printing, surgeons have more avenues to practice and hone their skills for better patient outcomes.
