Structured evaluation of a comprehensive microsurgical training program.

Area of Science:

• Microsurgery
• Surgical Education
• Medical Training

Background:

• Microsurgical skills are crucial for various surgical specialties.
• A structured and progressive training program is essential for developing proficiency in microsurgery.
• Existing training methods may lack comprehensive evaluation and standardization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and evaluate a structured 16-step microsurgical training program.
• To assess the effectiveness of the training program in improving microsurgical skills among surgeons.
• To identify common errors in microsurgical techniques for targeted improvement.

Main Methods:

• A 16-session practical microsurgical training course was developed.
• Training involved suturing rubber gloves, chicken tissues (arteries, veins, nerves), and rat femoral vessels.
• Structured assessments were conducted throughout the training program for 89 surgeons.

Main Results:

• Surgeons demonstrated significant improvement across all tested microsurgical procedures.
• Scores for chicken thigh suturing were higher than rubber glove suturing.
• Inadequate knotting and suture rupture were the most frequent errors (98.9%).

Conclusions:

• The proposed 16-step program provides a comprehensive and reliable method for learning basic microsurgical techniques.
• The program's evaluation in a large sample confirmed its adequacy in training sequence and outcomes.
• Further focus on knotting and suture techniques can enhance microsurgical training effectiveness.