Using Immersive Technologies to Develop Medical Education Materials

Metaverse applied to musculoskeletal pathology: Orthoverse and Rehabverse

The Metaverse is 'an integrated network of 3D virtual worlds.' It incorporates digitally created realities into the real world, involves virtual copies of existing places and changes the physical reality by superimposing digital aspects, allowing its users to interact with these elements in an immersive, real-time experience. The applications of the Metaverse are numerous, with an increasing number of experiences in the field of musculoskeletal disease management. In the field of medical training, the Metaverse can help facilitate the learning experience and help develop complex clinical skills. In clinical care, the Metaverse can help clinicians perform orthopedic surgery more accurately and safely and can improve pain management, the performance of rehabilitation techniques and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. Virtualization can also optimize aspects of healthcare information and management, increasing the effectiveness of procedures and the functioning of organizations. This optimization can be especially relevant in departments that are under significant care provider pressure. However, we must not lose sight of the fundamental challenges that still need to be solved, such as ensuring patient privacy and fairness. Several studies are underway to assess the feasibility and safety of the Metaverse.

Examining the effectiveness of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (VAMR) therapy for upper limb recovery and activities of daily living in stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) are emerging technologies in the field of stroke rehabilitation that have the potential to overcome the limitations of conventional treatment. Enhancing upper limb (UL) function is critical in stroke impairments because the upper limb is involved in the majority of activities of daily living (ADL).

METHODS

This study reviewed the use of virtual, augmented and mixed reality (VAMR) methods for improving UL recovery and ADL, and compared the effectiveness of VAMR treatment to conventional rehabilitation therapy. The databases ScienceDirect, PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and Web of Science were examined, and 50 randomized control trials comparing VAMR treatment to standard therapy were determined. The random effect model and fixed effect model are applied based on heterogeneity.

RESULTS

The most often used outcomes of UL recovery and ADL in stroke rehabilitation were the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremities (FMA-UE), followed by the Box and Block Test (BBT), the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). According to the meta-analysis, VR, AR, and MR all have a significant positive effect on improving FMA-UE for UL impairment (36 studies, MD = 3.91, 95 percent CI = 1.70-6.12, P = 0.0005) and FIM for ADL (10 studies, MD = 4.25, 95 percent CI = 1.47-7.03, P = 0.003), but not on BBT and WMFT for the UL function tests (16 studies, MD = 2.07, 95 percent CI = - 0.58-4.72, P = 0.13), CONCLUSIONS: VAMR therapy was superior to conventional treatment in UL impairment and daily function outcomes, but not UL function measures. Future studies might include further high-quality trials examining the effect of VR, AR, and MR on UL function measures, with an emphasis on subgroup meta-analysis by stroke type and recovery stage.

Virtual Reality and Three-Dimensional Printed Models Improve the Morphological Understanding in Learning Mandibular Sagittal Split Ramus Osteotomy: A Randomized Controlled Study

Background: The mandibular sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) is a routine operation performed to correct mandibular deformity including mandibular retrusion, protrusion, deficiency, and asymmetry. The SSRO remains a challenging procedure for junior surgeons due to a lack of adequate morphological knowledge necessary for success in clinical practice. Virtual reality (VR) and three-dimensional printed (3DP) models have been widely applied in anatomy education. The present randomized, controlled study was performed to evaluate the effect of traditional educational instruments, VR models, and 3DP models on junior surgeons learning the morphological information required to perform SSRO.

Methods: Eighty-one participants were randomly assigned to three learning groups: Control, VR, and 3DP. Objective and subjective tests were used to evaluate the learning effectiveness of each learning instrument. In the objective test, participants were asked to identify 10 anatomical landmarks on normal and deformed models, draw the osteotomy line, and determine the description of SSRO. In the subjective test, participants were asked to provide feedback regarding their subjective feelings about the learning instrument used in their group.

Results: The objective test results showed that the VR and 3DP groups achieved better accuracy in drawing the osteotomy line (p = 0.027) and determining the description of SSRO (p = 0.023) than the Control group. However, there was no significant difference among the three groups regarding the identification of anatomical landmarks. The VR and 3DP groups gave satisfactory subjective feedback about the usefulness in learning, good presentation, and enjoyment. The Control and 3DP groups reported positive feelings about ease of use.

Conclusion: The current findings suggest that VR and 3DP models were effective instruments that assisted in the morphological understanding of SSRO-related anatomical structures. Furthermore, 3DP models may be a promising supplementary instrument to bridge the gap between conventional learning and clinical practice.