Maintaining microneurosurgical ability via staying active in microneurosurgery

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of staying inactive for well-trained microneurosurgical hand and to determine the critical time period in the decreasing of this special ability (microneurosurgery). For this purpose we planned a case-based and time-dependent study. This study was done on a microneurosurgeon who previously worked very actively in a department of neurosurgery (at least one operation in a day). He received a new appointment which included staying inactive in another department for a certain period of time, like a medical doctor. He did hand practice everyday and scored his ability in the aspect of total beauty and harmony of the work. The total performance of work was graded as bad, good and excellent. A bad grade was scored as 1 point, a good grade as 2 points, and an excellent grade as 3 points. The inactive time period was divided into three equal periods of 30 days. The total numerical values were calculated and a mean score was estimated for each 30-day period. The differences among the first, second, and third periods were enumerated based on the mean scores. The mean score in the first 30 days was estimated as 2.56+/-0.49, in the second 30 days as 2.16+/-0.37, and in the third 30 days 1.66+/-0.47. The differences between these values were statistically significant. The result of this study revealed that neurosurgeons may gradually lose their well trained microneurosurgical ability through staying inactive from daily practice. The maintenance of trained microneurosurgical ability should be preserved by staying active in neurosurgical operative practice.