Simulation and Augmented Reality Training in Orthopedic Sports Medicine

The use of cadaver specimens has always been the best teaching method for residents. However, this requires dedicated space, resources, and high costs. In contrast, teaching in the operating room (OR) can cause concerns about patient safety, particularly in emergency procedures or complex cases. In addition, in some countries, it is no longer possible or particularly challenging to use cadavers for teaching purposes. With the development of technology, simulators, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) represent the best possible training tools for orthopedic residents. Simulators provide highly faithful models capable of almost perfect reproduction of human anatomy. A cheaper alternative to physical simulators is VR. With VR, the surgeon can interact directly in a virtual environment that is entirely computer-generated. In contrast, VR allows the surgeon to interact with the surrounding world. With AR, computer-generated images are directly projected onto the surgeon’s surgical field, overcoming the limitation of VR. The use of AR in orthopedic training is still in its early stages; however, the potential of this tool is appealing. Certainly, in the coming years, real or virtual simulators will be widely used in orthopedic training. In addition, developing new technologies and decreasing costs will make these devices more accessible. Probably, sports medicine will be one of the areas most affected by the growth and spread of these devices since arthroscopy is a surgical technique that can be easily reproduced with these technologies.