Innovative Clinical Scenario Simulator for Step-by-Step Microsurgical Training

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Microsurgery
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Microsurgical training requires incorporating real-world operative challenges.
• A novel clinical scenario simulator was developed for progressive microsurgical training, from basic to complex scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a new step-by-step microsurgical training curriculum.
• To compare skills acquired through the novel simulator versus conventional training.

Main Methods:

• Twenty novice surgical residents were randomized into control (conventional) and experimental (step-by-step simulator) groups.
• Participants underwent 4 weeks of laboratory practice followed by patient-based microvascular anastomoses.
• Microsurgical skills were assessed using the Global Rating Scale (GRS) and operative duration.

Main Results:

• Both groups showed significant improvement in GRS scores post-training.
• The experimental group achieved significantly higher GRS scores in actual clinical settings.
• No significant difference in operative duration was observed between the groups.

Conclusions:

• The step-by-step microsurgical curriculum utilizing a clinical scenario simulator significantly enhances microsurgical skill acquisition.
• This novel approach proves more effective than traditional training for improving skills in real operative situations.