The Game-Changing Power of Virtual Reality in Healthcare

By Bindu Brahmanandan, Nurse Educator, Program Management, IHNA

Upskill

October 1, 2024

Every new technological advancement changes the world. Healthcare is one of the major beneficiaries, considering the emergence of virtual reality. Since then, VR’s capabilities have extended from being just an entertainment tool to being used in remote surgery, training, and education in medicine. Virtual reality is no longer a thing of the future but is now a physical tool that improves patient care and surgical precision. This is how VR is transforming surgery:

Upskilling Surgeons through 3D Visualisations

This is perhaps one of the most notable benefits of using VR in medicine – the capacity to provide highly detailed three-dimensional representations of anatomical structures. Students and surgeons have long relied on textbooks or the internet for two-dimensional representations. It does not, however, enable a spatial understanding – a factor that is very much indispensable in complex procedures. In fact, anatomy can now be visualised in three dimensions using VR. This allows better and more immersive views. These visualisations are particularly useful in intricate fields of neurosurgery or orthopaedics where precision is the key.

All this translates to medical professionals’ access to virtual models, rotatable structures, and augmented reality that complement their training and decision-making. The sense of depth and clarity of 3D MRI images, as if they are right there before the surgeons, makes VR useful for improving spatial awareness and simplifying complex structures.

Simulated surgeries: safer learning environment

One particular stand-out, among the control room simulations of surgeries, is the operations on the hip replacement simulator, as well as the arthroscopy simulators. Surgeons no longer have to conduct procedures using cadavers, animals, or even patients. Simulators fragment surgery into task-based components where surgeons master the steps before entering real-life operating rooms. This not only strengthens surgeon skill levels but also significantly improves patient safety.

Simulation is greatly appealing since it allows the skills and decision-making of learners to be perfected in a risk-free environment. Whether it is merely practicing arthroscopic techniques, learning their visuospatial awareness, or surgeons perfecting procedures in VR, they can repeat it as many times as they need to until they feel sure and competent.

Real-World Applications of VR in Remote Surgery

Recently, the world is witnessing immense value in the application of VR technology. For example, the great success story of China can be mentioned where surgeons performed the complicated remote surgery with the help of VR tools. Today, by using VR, doctors located in different geographical locations can collaborate in real-time, in real life and give guidance and impart skills from any part of the world.

Another such worthwhile initiative the CURE program in Sub-Saharan Africa could be considered another site where VR technologies are put to use for supporting the training of local surgeons. And so, with the new horizon that immersive technologies provide, expert surgeons will now be able to mentor as well as offer real-time support to improve quality in care when working with low-resource settings. This kind of remote collaboration is termed as tele-mentoring or tele-proctoring and appears to have amazing potential for surgical equity across the globe.

Technical Challenges and Overcoming Limitations

While VR opens numerous possibilities, it is not without a lot of obstacles. The high cost of the equipment and technical complexity can constitute a barrier to further spread. Technical problems such as equipment malfunction and internet malfunction can also pose a danger during procedures. Another problem is that surgeons and students can be hypnotised by the virtual world, at times forgetting real-world contexts and human interaction.

All these issues will eventually disappear by investing and continuing with sophisticated VR technology in such systems, which must be robust and reliable. Hospitals and training centres should be equipped with skills for operating such advanced machinery.

Improving Infection Control and Operative Outcomes

There can be no question that VR enhances surgical planning and execution. In that sense, it helps surgeons view specific anatomy in three dimensions, aiding them in planning before the operation and navigating much better during the operation. The precision provided by these visualisations reduces the margin for errors significantly, as seen in spinal surgeries, where operations were guided by VR, and it reduced the error rate by 53.7 percent.

This means that complex procedures can be practiced in VR simulations before entering the operating theatre by a surgeon. It not only fosters confidence but also benefits from better surgical outcomes and decreased complications. As such, continuous improvement of VR is expected to bring about more breakthrough improvements in precision surgery, especially with the more complicated procedures including those in spinal deformities and neurosurgery.

A New Era of Learning in Medical Training with Virtual Reality

One of the most interesting uses for VR in medical training is a paradigm shift in how medical professionals are taught. While textbooks and classroom-type approaches are strictly traditional, their use leaves much to be desired when fully interactive and immersive learning is desired. For example, among plastic surgery residents who only consulted textbooks for learning, results showed significantly higher confidence and better performance when compared to those trained with the use of simulators and materials for VR.

This immersive technology has found its way into practice in all specialities, from cardiothoracic surgery to obstetrics. Future training in medicine will become “virtual reality” where students can interact with simulations akin to life, but with no human risk.

Revolutionising the Future of Health Care with VR

The further impact of VR technology on healthcare will be only a vast expansion. Haptic feedback, 3D imaging, and collaboration tools all in the right direction towards the advancement of remote surgeries and medical training. This change through investments in infrastructure and education will be a challenge for healthcare professionals to get ready for across different levels for overcoming the challenges that come with leading such modern practice.

But there’s nothing in the future of surgery except virtual, and with VR, we are bordering a healthcare revolution promised to be safer, more precise surgeries, better-trained medical professionals, and access to care, no matter where you are in the world.

Pull Quote:

“Recently, the world is witnessing immense value in the application of VR technology. For example, the great success story of China can be mentioned where surgeons performed the complicated remote surgery with the help of VR tools.”

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