Microgrids: A Model for Basic Microsurgery Skills Training

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Microsurgery Training
• Skill Assessment

Background:

• Microsurgery demands high technical skill, necessitating effective laboratory training for novice surgeons.
• Current training models progress in fidelity, from latex sheets to live animals.
• The microgrids model is introduced as a daily warm-up in a 5-day basic microsurgery course.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the correlation between microgrids coloring under magnification and microsuturing proficiency in novice surgeons.
• To assess the utility of the microgrids model as a screening tool for microsurgical skills.

Main Methods:

• Participants completed microgrids coloring daily for 20 seconds over a 5-day course.
• Microsuturing proficiency was assessed by timing the application of five sutures on a latex sheet.
• Sutures were evaluated using a modified Global Rating Scale (GRS).

Main Results:

• A statistically significant positive correlation was found between microgrids colored and suturing quality (p<0.01).
• Increased microgrids coloring correlated with reduced time to complete sutures (p<0.01).
• Microsuturing skill improvement during training was associated with microgrid coloring performance.

Conclusions:

• Microgrids coloring serves as a reliable indicator of microsuturing proficiency.
• The microgrids model is an accessible, low-cost tool for assessing hand dexterity and surgical skills.
• This model can be used as an initial training starter test and a rapid screening measure for microsurgical competence.