Basic skin flaps for the general surgeon: a teaching method.

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Surgical residency training often lacks sufficient exposure to skin flap procedures.
• Limited practical experience hinders resident proficiency in skin flap design and creation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an effective, low-cost, nonbiologic model for teaching skin flap techniques to surgical residents.
• To assess the impact of a hands-on laboratory exercise on resident performance and satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A 12x12-inch foam board model was created to simulate the creation of four skin flaps and one Z-plasty.
• Residents received a lecture followed by a practical exercise using the model.
• Performance was evaluated through pre- and post-training examinations and a satisfaction survey.

Main Results:

• Mean examination scores improved by 45% after the training.
• Residents reported high satisfaction, with an average rating of 4.7/5.
• The model-based training was rated superior to traditional lectures by all participants.

Conclusions:

• The developed foam board model offers an effective and economical nonbiologic solution for surgical skills training.
• This innovative model enhances preoperative skills in skin flap surgery for residents.
• The reusable materials make this a cost-effective educational tool.