Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Simulator as a teaching tool for anatomy education

Background: Virtual reality simulators provide an effective learning environment and are widely used. This study evaluated the Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Simulator (ES3; Lockheed Martin) as a tool for anatomic education. Methods: Two medical student groups (experimental, n = 8; control, n = 7) studied paranasal sinus anatomy using either the simulator or textbooks. Their knowledge was then tested on the identification of anatomic structures on a view of the nasal cavities. Results: The mean scores were 9.4 ± 0.5 and 5.1 ± 3.0 out of 10 for the simulator and textbook groups, respectively (P = .009). Moreover, the simulator group completed the test in a significantly shorter time, 5.9 ± 1.1 versus 8.3 ± 2.0 minutes (P = .021). A survey asking the students to rate their respective study modality did not materialize significant differences. Conclusion: The ES3 can be an effective tool in teaching sinonasal anatomy. This study may help shape the future of anatomic education and the development of modern educational tools.