Development of a Virtual Training Simulator to Model Shoulder Replacement Surgery

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The incidence of orthopaedic procedures of the upper limb is increasing dramatically in our aging population. Although some of the currently employed joint replacement procedures are successful, most surgeons tend to find them technically challenging. Recently, there has been growing interest in the use of simulators to train surgical staff, in a manner that is similar to the approaches taken for airplane pilots. As such, it is logical to postulate that the long term outcome of the joint replacement procedures will be significantly enhanced through the implementation of virtual simulators into the regular training curriculum. To address this, the primary goal of the proposed research is to develop a virtual simulator to be used as a reliable training tool by the surgical staff involved with shoulder joint replacement procedures at Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry as well as Hand and Upper Limb Centre. To enhance the quality and effectiveness of the developed simulator, the system will be equipped with augmented haptic feedback, aiming to provide surgeons with a realistic feel on the bone removal operation associated with glenoid surfacing procedure. The accuracy and feasibility of the developed system will be ensured through an extensive experimental testing and validation phases. Furthermore, surgeons will use the simulator to hone their skills and perform pre-operative planning before operating on patients. Over the longer term, it is envisioned that the developed virtual simulator will provide substantial reductions in procedure time and revision rates, which will ultimately translate into significant cost savings to Canadians.