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73. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC)
Joint Meeting mit der Griechischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC) e. V.

29.05. - 01.06.2022, Köln

Prospective study of the ergonomics using a robotic exoscope with a head-mounted display

Prospektive Studie zur Ergonomie bei der Verwendung eines Roboter-Exoskops mit kopfgetragenem Display

Meeting Abstract

  • presenting/speaker Anto Abramovic - Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Universitätsklinik für Neurochirurgie, Innsbruck, Österreich
  • Matthias Demetz - Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Universitätsklinik für Neurochirurgie, Innsbruck, Österreich
  • Aleksandrs Krigers - Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Universitätsklinik für Neurochirurgie, Innsbruck, Österreich
  • Marlies Bauer - Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Universitätsklinik für Neurochirurgie, Innsbruck, Österreich
  • Sara Lener - Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Universitätsklinik für Neurochirurgie, Innsbruck, Österreich
  • Daniel Pinggera - Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Universitätsklinik für Neurochirurgie, Innsbruck, Österreich
  • Johannes Kerschbaumer - Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Universitätsklinik für Neurochirurgie, Innsbruck, Österreich
  • Sebastian Hartmann - Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Universitätsklinik für Neurochirurgie, Innsbruck, Österreich
  • Claudius Thomé - Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Universitätsklinik für Neurochirurgie, Innsbruck, Österreich
  • Christian F. Freyschlag - Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Universitätsklinik für Neurochirurgie, Innsbruck, Österreich

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. 73. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC), Joint Meeting mit der Griechischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Köln, 29.05.-01.06.2022. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2022. DocP011

doi: 10.3205/22dgnc326, urn:nbn:de:0183-22dgnc3265

Veröffentlicht: 25. Mai 2022

© 2022 Abramovic et al.
Dieser Artikel ist ein Open-Access-Artikel und steht unter den Lizenzbedingungen der Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (Namensnennung). Lizenz-Angaben siehe http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.


Gliederung

Text

Objective: Conventional microscopes have been an integral part of modern neurosurgery for decades. Nevertheless, due to the largely unchanged design with fixed eyepieces attached to the device, some disadvantages in terms of posture and ergonomics have been claimed. Monitor-based exoscopes could solve this problem and thereby lead to less work-related sick leave for surgeons. The aim of this study was to assess the ergonomics, usability, and neurosurgeon’s comfort of a novel three-dimensional head-mounted display-based exoscope in a standardized setting.

Methods: A total of 34 neurosurgeons naïve to the device participated in a workshop on the exoscope, which features a head-mounted display and a head gesture-triggered control panel. After completion of a custom-made 10-step microsurgical exercise, a questionnaire was answered with regard to image quality and comfort. Participants' posture and performance during the procedure were analyzed using video motion analysis software.

Results: 34 participants with a median neurosurgical experience of 6 years were included. The median time to complete the exercise was 12 minutes (inter-quartile range [IqR] 9.4, 15.0). Significantly less time was needed for steps 6-10 compared to steps 1-5, especially in younger participants (p=0.005) and those with video game experience (p=0.03). Overall, participants reported no major difficulties using the exoscope, with median satisfaction at 80% for the device in general and 82% for image quality. 88% of the participants would feel safe to use the RoboticScope in the OR with technical assistance. The median coronal displacement of the upper body as well as the head displacement from the neutral axis was 0° [IqR -3, 5 and 0, 2; respectively. Participants with less microsurgical experience showed less head and body displacement during the exercise (p=0.01).

Conclusion: The robotic exoscope showed high participant approval in terms of ease of use and image quality. Using the microsurgical training tool, we were able to map a steep learning curve with sufficient learnability of key commands. The exoscope was also characterized by an ergonomically favorable posture and could become an alternative to conventional microscopes due to the potentially higher comfort for the surgeon.