Assessing mental representation of mastoidectomy by a computer-based drawing tool

Area of Science:

• Otologic surgery simulation
• Surgical training assessment
• Medical visualization tools

Background:

• Assessing a surgeon's mental representation of complex procedures like mastoidectomy is crucial for effective training.
• Traditional methods may not fully capture the nuances of spatial understanding and procedural planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a simple computer-based drawing tool for evaluating the mental representation of mastoidectomy.
• To assess the tool's efficacy in differentiating skill levels and tracking improvement post-training.

Main Methods:

• Twelve otology trainees and four experts used a graphic tablet to reproduce mastoidectomy movements on a displayed image.
• Surgical simulation accuracy was measured using Image J software, analyzing surface area, perimeter, circularity, and angle deviation.
• Evaluations were conducted before and after a dissection course.

Main Results:

• Experts demonstrated significantly larger mastoidectomy surface areas and higher circularity compared to trainees.
• Trainees showed increased surface area and circularity, and reduced angle deviation after the dissection course.
• The tool successfully distinguished between skill levels and indicated learning progression.

Conclusions:

• The developed computer-based drawing tool offers a valid method for assessing the initial mental representation of mastoidectomy.
• This tool can be a valuable aid in surgical education, providing objective feedback on procedural understanding.