J Rhinol.  2023 Jul;30(2):80-86. 10.18787/jr.2023.00018.

Digital Twins in Healthcare and Their Applicability in Rhinology: A Narrative Review

• Park M
• Oh N
• Jung YG

• KMID: 2544617
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.18787/jr.2023.00018

Abstract

Digital twins were initially introduced in the aerospace industry, but they have been applied to the medical field in the 2020s. The development of the Internet of Things, sensor technology, cloud computing, big data analysis, and simulation technology has made this idea feasible. Essentially, digital twins are virtual representations of real-world data that can generate virtual outcomes related to a patient based on their actual data. With this technology, doctors can predict treatment outcomes, plan surgery, and monitor patients’ medical conditions in real time. While digital twins have endless potential, challenges include the need to deal with vast amounts of data and ensure the security of personal information. In the field of rhinology, which deals with complex anatomy from the sinus to the skull base, the adoption of digital twins is just beginning. Digital twins have begun to be incorporated into surgical navigation and the management of chronic diseases such as chronic rhinosinusitis. Despite the limitless potential of digital twins, challenges related to dealing with vast amounts of data and enhancing the security of personal data need to be surmounted for this method to be more widely applied.

Keyword

Digital twins; Digital technology; Telemedicine; Mobile health; Healthcare

Figure

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  Fig. 1. The number of published papers related to digital twins searchable on PubMed has skyrocketed since 2017.

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  Fig. 2. The process from real-world data to digital twins for personalized healthcare. A: Any real-world data generated by a patient can be collected. In general, data from patients can be classified into three types: genomic data, clinical data, and patient-generated health data. B: A digital thread refers to a connection of shared data between the real world and the digital world. C: These data are transmitted to the digital world. D: Based on this information, we can create a digital replica, also known as a digital twin. A digital twin that mirrors a patient’s distinct characteristics allows for expectations for treatments that would be administrated to a real patient. This makes it possible to predict the patient’s individual outcome. E: This method is used to provide decision support to medical experts.

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  Fig. 3. Surgeons can perform an osteotomy on a digital twin that has been created based on a real patient’s image with a haptic device before the real surgery (unpublished data, Jung, 2023).

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  Fig. 4. Digital twins in rhinology. A: Augmented reality technology, which fuses preoperative computed tomography (CT) images and endoscopic images during surgery, has been developed to display major structures on an endoscope screen in real-time, enabling safer surgery and assisting surgeons. B: Patient-specific digital twin models for novice training provide real-time feedback without limitations on time or space and ensure patient safety during actual operations. C: Preoperative CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging can be used to create digital twins of a patient's anatomy, which can help surgeons plan surgical approaches, simulate procedures, and enhance their skills in a safe and controlled environment. As a result, the risk of complications can be reduced and surgical outcomes optimized. D: Digital twins have been utilized in the management of infectious diseases, vaccine design, and sleep-breathing disorders. The collection of patient data during the pandemic has led to the introduction of telemedicine. There have also been attempts to utilize mobile healthcare in chronic rhinosinusitis patients.

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  Fig. 5. Unveiling three-dimensional (3D) sinonasal anatomy for enhanced preoperative planning and spatial orientation. The illustration represents a 3D model of the sinonasal anatomy, created using a patient's computed tomography image (A). The (B) coronal, (C) endoscopic magnified, and (D) axial cuts of the model can be viewed in 3D, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the patient's anatomy prior to surgery while wearing a head-mounted display. The major structures such as muscles, vessels, and nerves are also displayed, which is useful for spatial orientation (unpublished data, Jung, 2023).

Reference

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