Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42329453›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society2026

Mixed reality improves agreement on surgical approach selection and patient positioning in tibial plateau fracture planning compared to CT, 3DCT and 3D printing.

Tobias Dust, Julian-Elias Henneberg, Maximilian Hartel, Alonja Reiter, Julian Kylies, Alexander Korthaus, Anna Streckenbach, Johannes Keller, Karl-Heinz Frosch, Matthias Krause

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Tobias DustDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg - Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. t.dust@uke.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9209-5833
Julian-Elias HennebergDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg - Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Maximilian HartelDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg - Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4978-2878
Alonja ReiterDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg - Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1800-706X
Julian KyliesDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg - Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-1441-2666
Alexander KorthausDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg - Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5361-6173
Anna StreckenbachDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Johannes KellerDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg - Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Karl-Heinz FroschDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg - Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Matthias KrauseDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg - Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7345-6506

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTibial plateau fractures require precise preoperative planning, particularly regarding treatment concept, patient positioning, and surgical approach. Mixed reality (MR) may enhance three-dimensional understanding of fracture morphology beyond conventional imaging and physical 3D models. This study investigated whether MR improves agreement on key preoperative planning decisions compared to computed tomography (CT), 3D computed tomography (3DCT), and 3D-printed fracture models.

methodsTwelve orthopaedic trauma surgeons (6 junior, 6 senior) evaluated 22 surgically treated tibial plateau fractures (AO/OTA type B or C). Each case was assessed in four steps using (1) CT, (2) 3DCT reconstructions, (3) physical 3D-printed models, and (4) MR visualization using Microsoft Hololens 2. Raters selected (i) treatment concept, (ii) patient positioning, and (iii) surgical approach. Interobserver agreement was analysed using Fleiss' kappa (κ) and percentage match (PM).

resultsMixed Reality (MR) yielded the highest interobserver agreement for both surgical approach (PM 32%, κ = 0.30) and patient positioning (PM 57%, κ = 0.35), particularly among junior surgeons (approach PM 39%, κ = 0.28; positioning PM 57%, κ = 0.39). Compared to CT, 3DCT, and 3D printing, MR demonstrated consistent improvements, while agreement on treatment concepts remained high across all modalities (PM > 82%).

conclusionMixed Reality (MR) improved interobserver agreement in preoperative planning for tibial plateau fractures, particularly for surgical approach selection and patient positioning. These effects were most pronounced among less experienced raters, highlighting MR's role as a cognitive support tool and a promising instrument in surgical education. Compared to conventional imaging and 3D printing, MR provided dynamic interaction and greater planning flexibility. While further clinical validation is required, these findings support MR as a valuable adjunct in orthopaedic trauma planning. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Indexed as

Augmented RealityPatient PositioningPrinting, Three-DimensionalTibial Plateau FracturesTomography, X-Ray ComputedFemaleFracture Fixation, InternalHumansImaging, Three-DimensionalMaleModels, AnatomicPatient Care PlanningInterobserver agreementMixed realityPatient positioningPreoperative planningSurgical approachTibial plateau fracture

Identifiers

PMID42329453
PMCPMC13287219

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.