Investigating Hip Arthroplasty Femur Preparation Training Using a Haptic-Enabled Virtual Reality Simulation

Abstract

Objective: Virtual reality (VR) simulation training offers a promising solution to the growing challenges of acquiring operative experience in surgical skill development. As previous studies have primarily utilised VR systems without haptic feedback, there remains limited evidence on the impact of more immersive, tactilely responsive platforms. This study aimed to assess if haptic-enabled VR technology could accelerate the acquisition of hip arthroplasty skills. Methods: Twenty undergraduate medical students (12 Female, 8 Male; age = 20 ± 2 years) were randomly allocated to either a 60-minute haptic VR training session or a traditional mentor teaching session on hip arthroplasty. After training, all participants performed a SawBone simulated hemiarthroplasty procedure in a physical environment. Outcomes measured included implant depth error, which determined procedural success, operative time, and an objective evaluation of technical skills by a blinded Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon. Results: We observed no difference in levels of implant depth error (P = .705), rated technical skill (P = .704), or operative time (for successful implant insertions; P = .551) between traditional and VR-trained groups. Conclusions: These results indicate that VR may, at least, serve as a valuable adjunct to traditional early-stage training in complex open procedures like joint arthroplasty. The study also emphasized the importance of realistic VR training modules and illustrated the potential limitations of incorporating low-fidelity haptic feedback in VR training for such procedures.