Case Study of Surgeon's Kinematics Performing Arthroscopy in Real and Simulation Scenarios: A Multisensor Approach

Surgical competence involves a spectrum of skills crucial for surgical trainees, however, the formal study of operative teaching and assessment lags other aspects of surgical education. Arthroscopy presents technical challenges requiring precise coordination and spatial awareness. The present study aims to study the feasibility of bridging the gap between the operating room and simulation environments. This has been achieved by comparing kinematic measurements during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgeries performed by a surgeon in both settings. Using inertial sensors and depth cameras, kinematic metrics were recorded and analyzed for eight surgical stages replicable across the two mentioned environments. The study established a strict protocol for operating room access and assessed the usability of sensor equipment. This work showed that it is possible to obtain kinematics metrics through IMUs inside the operating room, even if some discrepancies are present with the training environment on a knee mannequin. It has also been investigated the possibility of using an Azure Kinect DK as an alternative to the IMUs, but some criticalities have been highlighted.