Abstract: Objective To explore the application of mixed reality technique in the clinical teaching of percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy. Methods Collaborating with the team of Tsinghua University, percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy was presented through mixed reality technology. The subjects were selected from the resident doctor and intern in the surgical department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and randomly divided into mixed reality group and traditional teaching group (12 for each group), with the age, gender and seniority matched. After clinical teaching, questionnaire surveys and tests of the interactivity, interest, three-dimensional imagination, and understanding of knowledge were performed in two groups. Results Our study was the first to use mixed reality technology in clinical teaching of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy by creating virtual-reality and three-dimensional learning situation. There was no significant difference in the understanding of basic knowledge between the two groups, but the mixed reality group had significant advantages in learning initiative, interactivity, interest and three-dimensional imagination. Conclusions The application of mixed reality in medical teaching has great potential and broad prospects. Visualization, interactivity and three-dimensional imagination could be improved by medical teaching with mixed reality. Mixed reality combined with force feedback technology has significant development prospects of simulation training in specialist physicians.

Key words: mixed reality, orthopedics, spinal endoscopy, clinical teaching