The force pyramid: a spatial analysis of force application during virtual reality brain tumor resection.
OBJECTIVE Virtual reality simulators allow development of novel methods to analyze neurosurgical performance. The concept of a force pyramid is introduced as a Tier 3 metric with the ability to provide visual and spatial analysis of 3D force application by any instrument used during simulated tumor resection. This study was designed to answer 3 questions: 1) Do study groups have distinct force pyramids? 2) Do handedness and ergonomics influence force pyramid structure? 3) Are force pyramids dependent on the visual and haptic characteristics of simulated tumors? METHODS Using a virtual reality simulator, NeuroVR (formerly NeuroTouch), ultrasonic aspirator force application was continually assessed during resection of simulated brain tumors by neurosurgeons, residents, and medical students. The participants performed simulated resections of 18 simulated brain tumors with different visual and haptic characteristics. The raw data, namely, coordinates of the instrument tip as well as contact force values, were collected by the simulator. To provide a visual and qualitative spatial analysis of forces, the authors created a graph, called a force pyramid, representing force sum along the z-coordinate for different xy coordinates of the tool tip. RESULTS Sixteen neurosurgeons, 15 residents, and 84 medical students participated in the study. Neurosurgeon, resident and medical student groups displayed easily distinguishable 3D "force pyramid fingerprints." Neurosurgeons had the lowest force pyramids, indicating application of the lowest forces, followed by resident and medical student groups. Handedness, ergonomics, and visual and haptic tumor characteristics resulted in distinct well-defined 3D force pyramid patterns. CONCLUSIONS Force pyramid fingerprints provide 3D spatial assessment displays of instrument force application during simulated tumor resection. Neurosurgeon force utilization and ergonomic data form a basis for understanding and modulating resident force application and improving patient safety during tumor resection.
Neurosurgical Simulation Research and Training Centre, Department of Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, AmirKabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran.
Hamed
H
Azarnoush
Department of Biomedical Engineering, AmirKabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran.
Samaneh
S
Siar
Neurosurgical Simulation Research and Training Centre, Department of Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Robin
R
Sawaya
Neurosurgical Simulation Research and Training Centre, Department of Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.|National Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh.
Gmaan Al
GA
Zhrani
Neurosurgical Simulation Research and Training Centre, Department of Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Alexander
A
Winkler-Schwartz
Neurosurgical Simulation Research and Training Centre, Department of Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.|National Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh.
Fahad Eid
FE
Alotaibi
Neurosurgical Simulation Research and Training Centre, Department of Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.|Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah Almukarramah.
Abdulgadir
A
Bugdadi
Neurosurgical Simulation Research and Training Centre, Department of Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.|Division of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jeddah; and.
Khalid
K
Bajunaid
Neurosurgical Simulation Research and Training Centre, Department of Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Ibrahim
I
Marwa
Neurosurgical Simulation Research and Training Centre, Department of Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.|Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and.|Clinical Skill and Simulation Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulrahman Jafar
AJ
Sabbagh
Neurosurgical Simulation Research and Training Centre, Department of Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Rolando F
RF
Del Maestro
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006804:Ergonomics; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000193:education*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods*; D055585:Physical Phenomena; D000066908:Simulation Training; D062206:Spatial Analysis; D000076142:Virtual Reality
NeuroTouch, NeuroVR, surgical technique; Tier 3 performance metrics; brain tumor resection; ergonomics; force pyramid; virtual reality neurosurgical simulation