Microsurgery in microgravity is possible
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026
Propagation of Dental and Respiratory Cells and Organs in Microgravity
Published on: May 25, 2021
Vincent Pinsolle1, Dominique Martin, Laurent de Coninck
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Bordeaux University Hospital/Bordeaux 2 University, Bordeaux, France. vincent.pinsolle@chu-bordeaux.fr
Abstract:
The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the feasibility of a microsurgical procedure in the context of microgravity during parabolic flights. The surgical procedure included the sectioning and repair of a rat sciatic nerve and tail artery with 10/0 monofilament sutures. Both procedures were successful. To date, telesurgery cannot be considered during interplanetary spaceflights. If a surgeon is able to perform microsurgery in microgravity, a physician with basic surgery training will be able to perform basic surgical procedures in space flights.
