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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
Step By Step: Microsurgical training method combining two nonliving animal models
Published on: May 9, 2015
A basic model for practice of intracranial microsurgery
Dennis R Buis1, C Rob Buis, Ricardo E Feller
1Department of Neurosurgery 2F-005, Neurosurgical Center Amsterdam, Location VU University Medical Center,1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. dr.buis@vumc.nl
Background:
Intracranial microsurgical procedures often take place in a deep location, with a limited access space, necessitating the use of long knee-bend instruments and limiting the degree of movement. We devised an easily accessible model that allows the neurosurgical trainee to gain familiarity with intracranial microsurgical techniques.
Methods:
The model consists of a pedestal, on which 2 movable vices are placed. The object to be practiced on can be placed on a working area, or the vices may hold the object. The pedestal can be covered by a box with a centered hole. When using this box, the vices can move together in the vertical plane over a trajectory of 5.5 cm to simulate superficial or deep microsurgical procedures. To simulate several sizes of hypothetical craniotomies, 3 rings can be used to decrease the diameter of centered hole in the box.
Results:
Using the model, these techniques were judged to be technically more challenging and difficult to execute through the centered hole.
Conclusions:
Our model can be a useful method to train for basic intracranial microsurgery.
