The Virtual Neurosurgical Anatomy Laboratory: Integration of Cloud Based Virtual Reality with Remote and Interactive Microsurgical Anatomy Education

Introduction: Recent advances in computer sciences, including novel techniques for 3-dimensional rendering, have paved the way for the creation of cloud-based virtual reality (VR) interfaces, making real-time peer-to-peer interaction possible even from remote locations. This pilot study addresses the potential use of this technology for a shared experience in microsurgery anatomy education.

Methods: Digital specimens were created using multiple photogrammetry techniques and imported into a virtual meeting space simulating a neuroanatomy dissection laboratory. A VR educational program using a multiuser virtual anatomy laboratory experience was developed. Internal validation was performed with 5 multinational neurosurgery visiting scholars testing and assessing the digital VR models (US neurosurgery program). For external validation, 20 residents in a neurosurgery program in Turkey tested and assessed the same models and virtual space.

Results: Each of the participants responded to 14 statements assessing the virtual models. The statements were categorized under realism (3 statements), usefulness (2 statements), practicality (3 statements), enjoyment (3 statements), and recommendation (3 statements). Most responses expressed agreement or strong agreement with the assessment statements (US program: 66 of 70 (94%) total responses; Turkey program: 256 of 280 (91.4%) total responses). Notably, most of the participants strongly agreed that this system should be part of neurosurgery residency training and that virtual cadaver courses through this platform could be effective for education.

Conclusion : Cloud-based VR interfaces are a novel resource for neurosurgery education. Interactive and remote collaboration between instructors and trainees is possible in virtual environments using realistic volumetric surgical anatomical models created with photogrammetry. This technology could become part of a hybrid anatomy curriculum augmenting neurosurgery education, and allowing convenient simultaneous teaching and learning shared experience in real-time.