Virtual reality simulator for scoliosis surgery training: Transatlantic collaborative tests

Scoliosis is a complex deformation of the spine requiring, in severe cases, a highly delicate and invasive surgical instrumentation operation to correct the spinal deformities. Available traditional tools for surgical training have major drawbacks for which virtual reality (VR) technologies and computer simulation can offer solutions. In this paper, we introduce a surgical simulator integrating a complex patient-specific biomechanical model into a VR immersive environment in a collaborative context, the first of its kind for scoliosis surgery training. We present the results for the fully collaborative AVE (audio visual environment) aspects of the simulator. Haptic forces are computed in the biomechanical model, but not yet available as a haptic feedback because of the high forces and torques characteristic of scoliosis surgery, requiring the use of a specifically designed haptic device (in progress). Transatlantic collaborative tests showed that, with our simulator, users on different continents can train collaboratively for scoliosis surgery and visualise the forces and the resulting correction. With the eventual addition of haptic devices, they will also be able to feel the forces remotely.