Using Motion Tracking to Analyze Forceps Paths During Standardized Simulated Operative Vaginal Deliveries

Abstract

Local Mentor: Steven Johnson, MD APGO Advisor: Jody Steinauer, MD OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of motion tracking to discern variation in forceps paths during standardized simulated operative vaginal deliveries among experienced and inexperienced obstetric providers. METHODS: This is a pilot study involving 24 Obstetrics and Gynecology residents and six faculty at a single institution. Each participant was filmed performing standardized simulated forceps assisted vaginal deliveries on a high-fidelity model. Motion tracking software was used to track the path of the forceps blade and this data was analyzed for total path length, total x plane displacement, total y plane displacement, and final forceps angle. One-way ANOVA was used to evaluate for statistically significant differences between groups based upon education year, with Tukey's HSD post-hoc test to identify interactions. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences noted between groups in the total path length (F=7.57, P<.001) and total y plane displacement (F=5.79, P<.001). In the post-hoc analysis, this included faculty-PGY1 (P<.001) and faculty-PGY2 (P=.004) for total path length and faculty-PGY1 (P=.001) and faculty-PGY2 (P=.022) for total y plane displacement. There were no statistically significant differences noted between groups for total x plane displacement (F=0.89, P=.475) and final forceps angle (F=2.45, P=.052). CONCLUSION: Motion tracking of standardized simulated operative vaginal deliveries identifies statistically significant differences between experienced and inexperienced obstetric providers. This suggest that motion tracking can be used to design an educational intervention to improve forceps technique among Obstetrics and Gynecology residents.