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To assess whether practice on a virtual‐reality (VR) temporal bone simulator improves acquisition of technical skills in mastoid surgery.

Prospective blinded study.

Using a previously validated objective structured assessment of technical skills (OSATS) tool, performance was assessed in 12 residents for two tasks of cortical mastoidectomy: 1) identifying and defining the tegmen and 2) defining the sigmoid sinus and sinodural angle. These surgical tasks were chosen as key steps in mastoid dissection because they were of intermediate complexity. Videos of virtual dissections were captured at baseline and again after practicing each task four to six times.

OSATS scores for the tegmen task increased from 2.125 ± 1.25 to 3.1 ± 0.85 (P = .026), whereas for the sigmoid task scores increased from 2 ± 0.45 to 2.75 ± 1.125 (P = .0098). The time to complete the tasks …