Bolton Lauren, Gill Emma, Shah Savan, Ray Jaydip, Chawdhary Gaurav
ENT, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, GBR.
General Surgery, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, NZL.
Cureus. 2025 Jan 13;17(1):e77360. doi: 10.7759/cureus.77360. eCollection 2025 Jan.
Mastoid surgery is technically challenging with complex three-dimensional (3D) anatomy. With reduced access to traditional training methods and increasing new technologies available, virtual reality simulation is being evaluated in a regional training program as an adjunct to existing training structures.
Twenty higher surgical trainees were instructed to complete a cortical mastoidectomy and posterior tympanotomy on a VOXEL-MAN simulator (VOXEL-MAN, Hamburg, Germany). A pre- and post-session questionnaire was completed.
The visual analogue score for familiarity with the temporal bone 3D anatomy, cortical mastoidectomy and posterior tympanotomy surgical landmarks increased by 1.8 cm (p<0.0001), 1.4 cm (p<0.0001) and 2.2 cm (p<0.0001), respectively. Thirty percent of trainees felt that they had received adequate otology exposure within the last two years; 20% felt they would acquire enough experience to become a consultant otologist.
The VOXEL-MAN temporal bone simulator is effective in improving perceived anatomical and surgical knowledge and trainee confidence. Incorporating it into training programmes can help trainees compensate for the impact of the pandemic.
乳突手术在技术上面临挑战，因其解剖结构复杂且呈三维（3D）形态。随着传统培训方法的获取机会减少以及可用新技术的不断增加，虚拟现实模拟正在一个区域培训项目中作为现有培训结构的辅助手段进行评估。
20名高级外科实习生被指导在VOXEL - MAN模拟器（德国汉堡的VOXEL - MAN公司）上完成皮质乳突切除术和后鼓室切开术。完成了术前和术后问卷调查。
对颞骨3D解剖结构、皮质乳突切除术和后鼓室切开术手术标志的熟悉程度的视觉模拟评分分别提高了1.8厘米（p<0.0001）、1.4厘米（p<0.0001）和2.2厘米（p<0.0001）。30%的实习生认为他们在过去两年内接受了足够的耳科学培训；20%的实习生认为他们将获得足够的经验成为一名耳科顾问。
VOXEL - MAN颞骨模拟器在提高解剖学和手术知识认知以及实习生信心方面是有效的。将其纳入培训计划有助于实习生弥补疫情的影响。
