An Initial Study of Ingrown Toenail Removal Simulation in Virtual Reality with Bimanual Haptic Feedback for Podiatric Surgical Training

An initial study was conducted to identify the strengths and weaknesses of an ingrown toenail removal simulation we developed in collaboration with the Kent State College of Podiatric Medicine. In this paper, we describe the methods used in 3D modeling and haptic rendering development of the simulation with virtual reality and bimanual haptic feedback. The simulation utilizes dual Geomagic Touch Devices. These stylus-based devices sense force magnitude and movement responding with motor resistance. Multiple tasks of ingrown toenail surgery were simulated including anesthesia, elevation, and cutting. An evaluation experiment was conducted and data was recorded through a post-simulation questionnaire accompanied by a NASA Task Load Index inquiry. The results demonstrate that the developed system is acceptable for training medical students who need to practice podiatric surgery procedures.