Surgical Anatomy Education Innovation
📌 The Cleveland Clinic developed a new curriculum utilizing interactive holographic technology (Augmented Reality) to teach the spatial anatomy of the pelvic floor for urogynecology surgery.
💡 The primary challenge addressed is the difficulty in visualizing the complex spatial relationships between pelvic musculature, ligamentous supports, and neurovascular structures for both instructors and trainees.
🖥️ The modules cover critical procedures like uterus sacral ligament suspension and sacrospinous ligament fixation, allowing users to freely move around the 3D models.

Augmented Reality (AR) Application in Training
👓 The system employs transparent lenses, creating an augmented reality environment where spatial sound and mixed media can be integrated with the digital content.
📚 The curriculum simulates clinical scenarios, such as a post-hysterectomy patient presenting with flank pain and hydronephrosis, prompting trainees to identify structures (e.g., ischial spine) and answer critical clinical questions.
🎯 Trainees practice identifying safe zones for suture placement, noting that the Green Zone is the safest distance from both the ureter (closest to pink zone) and the rectum (closest to red zone).

Procedural Deep Dives and Error Prevention
🔪 For Uterosacral Ligament Suspension, the ideal suture entry point is lateral to medial; the distal suture is the most likely culprit for transient ureteral obstruction.
🩸 For Sacrospinous Ligament Fixation, improper suture placement leads to major risks: placement too close to the ischial spine endangers the pudendal artery (causing bleeding), while placement too high affects the inferior gluteal artery.
🧠 To avoid nerve damage during fixation, trainees should place sutures one to two finger breaths medially from the ischial spine and stay on the bottom half of the ligament to avoid the sciatic nerve (causing shooting leg pain) and potential numbness in the labia.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ The holographic technology supports both group instruction (instructor sees the learner's view) and self-directed study (e.g., preparation the night before surgery).
➡️ Understanding spatial relationships in pelvic surgery requires appreciating anatomical nuances that change with every perspective, which the AR headset facilitates.
➡️ Critical safety landmarks for suture placement include identifying the ischial spine and keeping sutures away from the proximity of the pudendal artery and sciatic nerve.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Dec 10, 2025, 07:20 UTC