Performing aneurysmal clipping requires years of training to successfully understand the 3D neurovascular anatomy. This training has traditionally been obtained by learning through observation. Currently, with fewer operative aneurysm clippings, stricter work-hour regulations, and increased patient safety concerns, novel teaching methods are required for young neurosurgeons. Virtual-reality (VR) models offer the opportunity to either train a specific surgical skill or prepare for an individual surgery. With this study, the authors aimed to compare the spatial orientation between traditional 2D images and 3D VR models in neurosurgical residents or medical students.

Residents and students were each randomly assigned to describe 4 aneurysm cases, which could be either 2D images or 3D VR models. The time to aneurysm detection as well as a spatial anatomical description was assessed via an online questionnaire and compared between the groups. The aneurysm cases were 10 selected patient cases treated at the authors’ institution.

Overall, the time to aneurysm detection was shorter in the 3D VR model compared to 2D images, with a trend toward statistical significance (25.77 ± 37.26 vs 45.70 ± 51.94 seconds, p = 0.052). No significant difference was observed for residents (3D VR 24.47 ± 40.16 vs 2D 33.52 ± 56.06 seconds, p = 0.564), while in students a significantly shorter time to aneurysm detection was measured using 3D VR models (26.95 ± 35.39 vs 59.16 ± 44.60 seconds, p = 0.015). No significant differences between the modalities for anatomical and descriptive spatial mistakes were observed. Most participants (90%) preferred the 3D VR models for aneurysm detection and description, and only 1 participant (5%) described VR-related side effects such as dizziness or nausea.

VR platforms facilitate aneurysm recognition and understanding of its spatial anatomy, which could make them the preferred method compared to 2D images in the years to come.

进行动脉瘤夹闭需要多年的培训才能成功理解 3D 神经血管解剖结构。这种训练传统上是通过观察学习来获得的。目前，随着手术切除动脉瘤的减少、更严格的工作时间规定以及患者安全问题的增加，年轻的神经外科医生需要新的教学方法。虚拟现实 (VR) 模型提供了训练特定手术技能或为个人手术做准备的机会。通过这项研究，作者旨在比较神经外科住院医师或医学生的传统 2D 图像和 3D VR 模型之间的空间方向。

居民和学生被随机分配来描述 4 个动脉瘤病例，这些病例可以是 2D 图像或 3D VR 模型。通过在线问卷评估动脉瘤检测时间以及空间解剖描述，并在组间进行比较。动脉瘤病例是在作者所在机构治疗的 10 个选定的患者病例。

总体而言，与 2D 图像相比，3D VR 模型中动脉瘤检测的时间更短，具有统计显着性的趋势（25.77 ± 37.26 vs 45.70 ± 51.94 秒，p = 0.052）。居民没有观察到显着差异（3D VR 24.47 ± 40.16 vs 2D 33.52 ± 56.06 秒，p = 0.564），而在学生中，使用 3D VR 模型测量到动脉瘤检测的时间明显更短（26.95 ± 35.39 对 54.160 ± , p = 0.015)。观察到解剖和描述性空间错误的方式之间没有显着差异。大多数参与者 (90%) 更喜欢使用 3D VR 模型进行动脉瘤检测和描述，只有 1 名参与者 (5%) 描述了与 VR 相关的副作用，如头晕或恶心。

VR 平台有助于动脉瘤的识别和对其空间解剖结构的理解，这可能使其成为未来几年与 2D 图像相比的首选方法。