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Novel Use of Objective Sensor Technology: Creation of Individualized Education Plans to Develop Operative Mastery
James R Korndorffer1, Cameron Schultz, Calvin Perumalla
1From the Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA (Korndorffer, Schultz, Perumalla, Perrone, Pugh).
Journal of the American College of Surgeons
|January 14, 2025
Summary
Wearable sensors can identify surgical skill differences, creating benchmarks for practice-ready surgeons. This enables personalized training to improve surgical competency and mastery.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Education
- Medical Technology
- Performance Analytics
Background:
- Motion tracking correlates with surgical skill but hasn't been used for development.
- Defining performance goals is crucial for skill acquisition.
- Wearable sensors can identify motion-tracking outcomes for practice-ready (PR) surgeons, establishing precision learning benchmarks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if wearable sensor technology can differentiate between practice-ready (PR) and not PR surgeons.
- To establish motion-tracking outcome benchmarks for surgical training.
- To explore the potential for individualized surgical training protocols.
Main Methods:
- 94 surgeons and trainees wore motion-tracking sensors during simulated surgical tasks.
- Participants were rated as PR or not PR by coach evaluators using a modified SIMPL scale.
- Benchmarks were set using the median performance of the PR group; all participants' motion outcomes were compared to these benchmarks.
Main Results:
- 53 of 94 participants were rated PR.
- Significant differences in motion metrics were found between PR and not PR groups across suturing, pattern cutting, and cholecystectomy tasks.
- Not PR individuals were significantly less likely to achieve established performance benchmarks (chi-square = 55.48, p < 0.00001).
Conclusions:
- Wearable sensor technology effectively distinguishes between PR and not PR surgeons.
- Motion metric benchmarks derived from PR surgeons can guide surgical training endpoints.
- This approach facilitates individualized training, potentially accelerating surgical skill competency and mastery.
