CAS as a Training Tool for MIS

Abstract

Computer-assisted surgery (CAS) can be used in several ways as a training and performance assessment tool in orthopedic surgery, especially in less and minimally invasive applications. While the traditional teaching methods of training by observing experienced surgeons, and by practicing on cadavers are not likely to be replaced in the near future, CAS brings some valuable complementary models to the learning process. It also makes simulation, training and teaching, a continuous process that extends into daily surgical practice, and works as its integral part. With the intense development and growing popularity of less and minimally invasive surgical (MIS) procedures, the role of CAS in surgical training is becoming even more essential. As surgical exposures are becoming less open, it becomes more difficult to teach a surgical procedure solely in a traditional way. There are several levels at which CAS can help in the training for MIS, specifically: to improve planning, to teach the basic surgical skills, to provide feedback on how well the conventional MIS procedure is conducted, or to validate one CAS procedure with a more descriptive or more accurate one.