History of medical education in neurosurgical training: moving from illustrations and cadaver dissections to virtual...

The main objective of the study is to trace the history and evolution of neurosurgical education, examining the parallels between pre-Hellenistic, Islamic Golden Age, and modern educational methods. The study explores how the pioneering teaching approaches can inspire continuous improvements in current neurosurgical education. Additionally, the importance of mentorship and clinical clerkships in advancing international neurosurgical education is highlighted.

This is a historical narrative review study, aiming to trace the evolution of neurosurgical education from antiquity to the present. The literature search was conducted between January 2020 and March 2024 using the databases PubMed, Scopus, JSTOR, and Google Scholar. Search terms included: "history of neurosurgical education," "cadaveric dissection in medical training," "Al-Zahrawi surgery," "anatomy teaching Renaissance," and "VR simulation in neurosurgery." Sources included primary historical texts (e.g., Edwin Smith Papyrus, Sushruta Samhita), secondary academic reviews, classical medical treatises, surgical textbooks, and biographies of key historical figures. Inclusion criteria focused on relevance to neurosurgical teaching, anatomical education, and educational methods, spanning both Western and non-Western civilizations.

As this is a historical narrative review, the results are presented through qualitative data - primarily events, milestones, educational practices, and biographical contributions - rather than statistical or outcome-based data. The historical analysis reveals a continuous link between mentorship, clinical clerkships, and hands-on neuroanatomy training as key factors that have shaped modern neurosurgical education. Notable advancements include Osler's introduction of bedside rounds and clerkships, and Rhoton's modern method of dissection of cadaveric heads for neuroanatomy teaching.

The study concludes that historical insights into neurosurgical education methods provide valuable lessons for future improvements in teaching and mentoring in the field. The legacy of figures such as Sir William Osler and Dr. Albert Rhoton continues to inform and inspire modern neurosurgical education, particularly in clinical and anatomical learning practices.