Virtual patient for trainee trauma surgeons

Chemnitz, 7 August 2023: Engineers at Chemnitz University of Technology (TUC) are working together with doctors and software experts to develop a virtual patient for young doctors. Trainee trauma surgeons will use it to safely practise how to repair a spine or insert a new hip joint before cutting, milling and drilling on real patients. This is according to a university press release.

„While procedural knowledge can be taught well with teaching materials, learning sensorimotor skills has so far only been possible through the practical execution of surgical steps on humans,

says the university about surgeon training. „However, there is a lack of suitable training systems for this part of training, particularly in the field of orthopaedic trauma surgery.“

System aims to simulate resistance and forces during operations on the spine and hip joint

The partners in the „Orthominigames“ project therefore now want to develop bone models with force coupling. These are intended to simulate the forces that act during every surgical procedure. The young doctors are then shown a virtual patient and operating theatre as realistically as possible using data goggles. They can then experiment on the digital spine until every drill hole is in place and every screw for the operating theatre is correctly positioned. The system will, for example, simulate the coupling of torques and axial forces during the drilling, milling, screwing and insertion of implants on the bone.

Advantages expected for patients and clinics

This virtual patient could offer physicians more safety when performing surgical procedures, enable patients to receive the best possible care and provide clinics with the best possible service;The university announcement goes on to say that the new technology will enable patients to receive the best possible care and will also bring cost benefits to hospitals by reducing operating times thanks to better trained assistants. This would reduce supervision times and the need for anaesthetics. „This creates a win-win-win situation for patients, medical staff and clinics“, says Dr Mario Lorenz from the TUC Professorship of Production Systems and Processes, who is co-supervising the project.

Grant from the Ministry of Economic Affairs

In addition to Chemnitz University, Youse GmbH from Berlin, Fakt Software GmbH from Leipzig (also known for its Crazy Machines games) and the Centre for Research into Musculoskeletal Organs (Zesbo) at the Clinic for Orthopaedics, Trauma Surgery and Plastic Surgery at Leipzig University Hospital are also involved in the project. The Federal Ministry of Economics is contributing 220,000 euros. The Orthominigames should be ready by the end of 2025.

Source: Oiger - News from business and research from 07/08/2023