OpenOR - a virtual reality framework for medical education.

Authors

Florian Grimm, Brenno Santana Tagliavini, Felix Behling, Marcos Tatagiba, Borris Golinski, Patrick Haas, Isabel Gugel, Constantin Roder

Published in

Acta neurochirurgica. Jul 01, 2026. Epub Jul 01, 2026.

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly recognized as a powerful tool in medical training. It offers immersive, interactive environments ideal for exploring complex anatomy and procedures. With the advent of affordable hardware, VR can provide high-quality, cost-effective training experiences.
We developed the VR application OpenOR in Unity for medical education. It supports multi-user interaction with customizable avatars and hand-tracking for intuitive control. Designed for medical students and professionals, OpenOR enables the exploration of complete clinical case studies. This includes medical history, a virtual DICOM viewer, visualization of anatomical structures and pathologies derived from MRI segmentations, and the original 3D surgical videos for each case. In addition, the 3D MRI-based models are complemented by CAD (computer-aided design) models of real implants, such as VP shunts or aneurysm clips. A usability test was conducted with 30 medical students using structured questionnaires.
The pilot implementation demonstrated OpenOR's educational potential. Students reported increased engagement and a perceived improvement in understanding of anatomy and surgical workflows. The multi-user mode fostered collaborative learning, while hand-tracking supported intuitive interaction. The combination of virtual PACS viewing, interactive 3D models, and surgical 3D videos provided a realistic and integrated learning experience. The evaluation feedback indicated high user satisfaction and confirmed the platform's value for neurosurgical and anatomical training.
OpenOR represents a significant advancement in VR-based medical education. By integrating immersive technologies with affordable hardware, it offers practical and scalable training solutions for Neurosurgery and Neuroanatomy.

PMID:
42387029
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 02 Jul 2026.

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