Spatial Cognition Ability in Surgeons Performing Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Surgical Education
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (ETSS) demands advanced psychomotor skills.
• Individual learning curves for surgical skills vary, potentially influenced by spatial abilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between spatial visualization ability and the learning curve in ETSS.
• To assess the necessity of personalized ETSS training curricula based on spatial ability.

Main Methods:

• Thirty medical students without prior ETSS experience completed the spatial orientation test (SOT).
• Participants performed a dural incision task (DIT) twice on an ETSS training model.
• SOT scores measured spatial visualization, while DIT performance evaluated psychomotor skill acquisition.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in DIT performance was observed between the first and second trials (P = 0.0035).
• No significant difference in DIT scores was found between students with high and low spatial orientation test scores.
• Individual differences in spatial visualization ability did not predict performance on the DIT.

Conclusions:

• The dural incision task in ETSS training may not require personalized curricula based on spatial ability.
• Two practice trials appear adequate for mastering the basic psychomotor skills of the ETSS dural incision task.
• Further research is needed to evaluate spatial ability's impact on more complex ETSS procedures like suturing.