The traditional cadaver lab is evolving. With the rise of virtual dissection platforms and mixed reality headsets, surgeons can now gain hands-on experience from anywhere in the world—no scalpel or specimen required.

Platforms like FundamentalVR and Osso VR are pioneering hyper-realistic surgical simulations, complete with haptic feedback and anatomical variability. These programs are already being used by major academic centers and device companies to train physicians on minimally invasive spine techniques.

What makes this exciting? It levels the playing field for global access to surgical education. Whether you’re at a top U.S. hospital or a remote clinic abroad, the opportunity to refine complex techniques—like lateral lumbar interbody fusion or SIJ fusion—can now happen on demand.

As this tech becomes more widely adopted, we may see VR-based training become a credentialing requirement before live surgery.

🔗 Explore Osso VR’s approach to surgical simulation