Haptic feedback during virtual reality training significantly improves First-Year orthopedic resident performance at tibia drilling: a randomized trial

Abstract

Background:Few studies have investigated whether haptic feedback improves the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) simulation. This study aimed to determine whether new orthopedic surgery residents trained on haptic feedback-enabled VR performed basic drilling better than residents who had trained on VR without haptic feedback. Methods:Fourteen first-year orthopedic surgery residents were enrolled and randomized into "haptic" or "non-haptic" groups and blinded to study goals and randomization. Residents participated in a VR tibia drilling simulation with haptic feedback either turned on or off and then performed a plastic resin tibia model drilling session where overdrill depth was measured by two raters blinded to study groups. Questionnaires were completed before and after the hands-on sessions with responses on a five-point Likert scale. Results:There were no significant differences in demographics between groups. Overdrill depth during the first trial was significantly less in the haptic group than the non-haptic group (3.9 mm vs. 6.0 mm, P = 0.005). Subsequent trials showed no significant difference in mean overdrill depth between groups (P > 0.05). Haptic group participants reported higher confidence in the safe use of surgical tools (4 vs. 3, P < 0.01) and more simulation realism (4 vs. 3, P < 0.01). Conclusion:VR training with haptic feedback significantly improves initial performance during use of a surgical drill through a tibia model compared to VR training without haptic feedback in first year orthopedic residents. The addition of haptic feedback also increases the perceived value, realism, and enjoyment of VR simulation.