The Impact of Early Exposure to Microsurgery Training on Undergraduates: A Pilot Course

This case study aimed to investigate a disparity in the medical education pipeline by investigating the impact of fundamental microsurgical training on interest and desire to pursue a career in medicine. This research introduces a method to attract undergraduate students from various backgrounds to the field of microsurgery through a hands-on microsurgical training course.

Microsurgical training took place 6 hours a week for 6 weeks. Techniques included knot-tying and anastomoses on 1-, 2- and 3-mm synthetic vessels using both end-to-end and back-wall techniques. Participant's knowledge and confidence in microsurgical skills were evaluated using a presurvey, postsurvey, and vessel patency. One undergraduate student with no prior surgical knowledge completed one-on-one microsurgical training designed for integrated plastic surgery residents and was supervised by a microsurgical educator.

The undergraduate student achieved the microsurgery level equivalent to a third-year surgical resident in the same training program and could complete patent anastomoses using end-to-end and back-wall methods on a 1-mm, 2-mm, and 3-mm synthetic vessel. The student's timing for different skills decreased over time while their confidence level increased. Their time for tying 3 knots decreased from 2.53 minutes to 19 seconds, while their time for a 3-mm end-to-end anastomosis decreased by 5.13 minutes.

Medical knowledge may not be necessary before starting microsurgery training. Early, hands-on exposure may make a medical career less intimidating.