State of microsurgery teaching in France in 2025

Microsurgery is becoming increasingly important in many surgical specialities. In France, it is taught as part of university certificates (UC), which are organised in different ways. A previous study carried out in 2014 highlighted several challenges, particularly in terms of finance and structure. This study aims to update this data ten years later to analyse the evolution of microsurgery teaching in France and identify future challenges related to new practices and constraints.

A descriptive observational survey was performed between January and March 2025 at 28 French university hospitals. The educational referents of the microsurgery university certificates were interviewed using a standardised questionnaire covering teaching methods, hours, assessment methods, registration costs and difficulties encountered. The data collected was compared with that of the 2014 study.

Seventeen centres offered a university certificate in microsurgery, including 14 that already existed in 2014. The average number of hours per year decreased by 24%, while the total number of places offered increased by 86%. Assessment methods remained heterogeneous. The average cost of enrolment in initial training increased by 292 euros. The main challenges identified concerned access to animal models, economic constraints and lack of supervision.

Despite a growing interest in microsurgery training, major disparities persist between university certificates. Standardising programmes, optimising resources and introducing a progressive training pathway could help harmonise practices, while addressing current ethical and logistical issues. We therefore suggest a three-stage model (inert materials, living models, advanced training) to structure learning.