Effect of virtual reality versus dry lab training on technical skills in robotic surgical simulation: a systematic review and meta-analysis - Report - MDSpire
Clinical Report: VR Compared with Dry-Lab Training in Robotic Surgery
Overview
This systematic review and meta-analysis compared virtual reality (VR) with dry-lab (DL) simulation for robotic-surgery technical skills and task completion time. The supplied article context describes the rationale and methods but does not provide its results; related web research reports higher overall post-test technical performance after DL in pooled controlled studies, with no significant difference in the randomized-trial subset and similar task completion times.
Background
Robotic surgery has expanded across institutions, while novice trainees continue to face challenges acquiring fundamental robotic skills. Training outside the operating room commonly uses VR simulators or physical dry-lab models, and curricula vary without a universally accepted approach. DL uses robotic instruments and physical materials, whereas VR offers software-based simulation and objective feedback; the fidelity of VR interactions can vary. The source notes uncertainty about whether VR and DL are equivalent for suturing performance and limited evidence on transfer of skills to real patients.
Data Highlights
Evidence set
Participants/studies
Reported result
Controlled studies in the related web research summary
10 studies; n=333
Overall post-test technical performance favored DL over VR (SMD −0.43, 95% CI −0.74 to −0.12).
Meta-analysis subset
6 studies; n=168
Not separately specified in the supplied summary.
Randomized-trial subset
Not specified
No difference reported (SMD −0.15, 95% CI −0.57 to 0.27).
Task completion time
Not specified
Times were reported as similar; fixed-time curricula favored DL, while the proficiency-based progression result is truncated in the supplied material.
Key Findings
The review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420250609755) on May 12, 2025, and was reported as following Cochrane intervention-review guidance and PRISMA 2020.
The supplied article context states that the review directly compared VR and DL robotic training for technical performance and task completion time, but does not include the article’s results.
The related web research summary reports 10 controlled studies involving 333 participants, with six studies and 168 participants included in a meta-analysis.
In the pooled controlled-study result reported in that summary, overall post-test technical performance favored DL (SMD −0.43, 95% CI −0.74 to −0.12).
Among randomized trials, the summary reports no difference between approaches (SMD −0.15, 95% CI −0.57 to 0.27); task completion times were described as similar.
The background identifies practical contrasts: DL uses physical robotic instruments and materials but requires equipment coordination and preparation, while VR can provide objective performance feedback and its simulated interaction fidelity may vary.
Clinical Implications
The supplied material does not establish a universal preferred training modality or report evidence of transfer to patient outcomes. The related research summary indicates that comparative performance findings differ between the overall controlled-study pool and the randomized-trial subset, so these results should be interpreted in the context of study design and training format.
Conclusion
The source frames VR versus DL as an unresolved comparison in robotic-surgery simulation, particularly for suturing. The related summary reports an overall post-test performance advantage for DL in controlled studies, but no difference in randomized trials and similar task completion times.
by Samy Castillo-Flores, Ricardo E. Nunez-Rocha, Andres A. Abreu, Zachary A. Whitham, Gilbert Z. Murimwa, Morgan F. Pettigrew, Ofelia Negrete-Vasquez, Ganesh Sankaranarayanan, Angela A. Guzzetta, Daniel J. Scott, Herbert J. Zeh, Patricio M. Polanco
