Mixed Reality in Surgery: Development of a Mixed Reality Application for Surgical Training

Abstract

Mixed reality (MR) technology combines the real and the virtual world in an innovative way, where the users can see and interact with both worlds at the same time, having several applications in surgical practice, planning, and training. A MR application was developed to be used in a head mounted display (Microsoft HoloLens 2) for surgical training of the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery, with the aim of indicating the position of the femoral tunnel. This application was tested by 11 surgeons of the Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António, who have all completed the simulation successfully, with an average time of under a minute. These surgeons answered an inquiry of satisfaction, where they all highlighted the potential that MR has in surgical training.