Microvascular training of medical students and surgeons - a comparative prospective study

Since microsurgical experience remains the most important skill in various surgical fields it should be in general part of the training program, either in medical studies or residency. This study compares the results of microsurgical education after completion of a comprehensive microsurgical course program between students and surgeons. 59 clinical medical students and 19 surgeons participated at a weekly 14-day microsurgical training course. Two examiners assessed the participants independently and blinded. Comparison between the groups demonstrated that the students achieved higher scores with a significant difference in tissue handling (p = 0.04). The surgeons had more days of absence from the course compared with the students. In the practical examination, the students scored a mean 13.71 points compared with 11.73 points for the surgeons (p < 0.0001). In the theoretical part students achieved 15.27 points compared to the mean of 13.50 points of the surgeons (p = 0.009). Prior to participation the students described an ambition to a career in a specialty performing microsurgery in 23 cases, after the microsurgical course following completion 50 participants worked in a surgical field. Microsurgical education can be part of undergraduate medical studies. The microsurgery training course influenced the students' ambition in relation to microsurgery as a future career.