Comparative Analysis of Virtual Reality Simulation and Conventional Training in Temporal Bone Dissection

A novel method for teaching a variety of medical operations is virtual reality (VR) simulation, which can potentially improve learning without the hazards of conventional hands-on training. A crucial ability in otolaryngology that calls for accuracy and skill is the dissection of cadaveric temporal bones. A total of 155 individuals with little to no prior knowledge of temporal bone dissection were randomized to either the VR group (85 participants), which trained under supervision using a VR simulator, or the traditional group (70 participants), which used models, videos, and small group instructions. Participants dissected a cadaveric temporal bone after training, and blinded assessors evaluated the results using six criteria: anatomical accuracy, technique, efficiency, overall performance, injury size, and end product. The results revealed that the VR group outperformed the traditional group, achieving significantly higher scores in the end product, causing fewer injuries to anatomical structures, and demonstrating better overall performance, with all differences being statistically significant. The research employed IBM SPSS statistics (version 26) for statistical analysis, and an independent t-test was used to compare the groups' mean scores. The results indicated fair to moderate reliability when inter-rater reliability was evaluated using the Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and the kappa statistic. These findings suggest that VR simulation is a more effective means of honing cadaveric temporal bone dissection abilities than traditional training techniques.