A model for foramen ovale puncture training: technical note

Design of a synthetic simulator for pediatric lumbar spine pathologies

“…47 Although continuous investments for research involving virtual-reality simulation in neurosurgery should be encouraged to refine both graphic and robotic technology, at the current stage of surgical simulation, the strategies that have been demonstrated to be most reliable, educational, and cost-efficient are still based on synthetic simulation. 4,19,35,39,61,64 For instance, in the laparoscopic literature, the surgical field that has most contributed to advancing the field of surgical simulation (as well as the specialty that has earlier incorporated its benefits into its educational processes), the vast majority of the available training programs still strongly rely on synthetic simulators. 10,14,16,22,24,26,59 Several simulators of neurosurgical procedures have already been developed and are currently being used as adjuvant tools for enhancing the quality of neurosurgical training.…”

“…10,14,16,22,24,26,59 Several simulators of neurosurgical procedures have already been developed and are currently being used as adjuvant tools for enhancing the quality of neurosurgical training. A nonexhaustive list of synthetic simulators include an intracranial endoscopic simulator, 19 a model for minimally invasive spine surgery, 61 a simulator for paranasal and skull base endonasal endoscopic surgery, 38 a model of foramen ovale puncture, 4 a simulator of open skull base approaches, 64 and a general microsurgical simulator for vascular intracranial procedures. 35 Regarding virtual-reality simulators in neurosurgery, it is worth mentioning ventriculostomy simulators, 28,32,43 spine needle biopsy simulators, 29,46 pedicle screw placement simulators, 27,33 a spinal deformity correction simulator, 6 a lateral skull base simulator, 2 a diagnostic cerebral angiography simulator, 56 and an aneurysm clipping simulator.…”