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Published on: May 7, 2017
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Operative Landscape at Canadian Neurosurgery Residency Programs
Michael K Tso1, Ayoub Dakson2, Syed Uzair Ahmed3
11Division of Neurosurgery,University of Calgary,Calgary,AB.
Summary
Canadian neurosurgery residency programs averaged 1845 operative cases in 2014. This data offers insights into neurosurgical training volumes and informs curriculum development for future competency-based training.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Medical Education
- Surgical Training
Background:
- Limited data exists on operative case volumes in Canadian neurosurgery residency programs.
- Understanding current training volumes is crucial for evaluating and enhancing neurosurgical education.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of operative case volumes across Canadian neurosurgery residency programs.
- To analyze the distribution of procedures within neurosurgical training.
Main Methods:
- Anonymized operative data from Canadian neurosurgery residency programs (2014) were collected.
- Procedures were categorized into cranial, spine, peripheral nerve, and miscellaneous.
- Resident case index was calculated as total operations per resident.
Main Results:
- An average of 1845 operative cases per program were recorded.
- Mean cases included 725 cranial, 466 spine, 48 peripheral nerve, and 193 miscellaneous procedures.
- Nationwide mean resident case indices were 90 (cranial), 58 (spine), 5 (peripheral nerve), and 196 (total).
Conclusions:
- The study outlines the scope of neurosurgical training in Canada.
- Findings can inform the transition to a competence-by-design curriculum by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons.
- Variations in subspecialty procedure exposure were noted across programs.
