Validation of a synthetic lumbar spinal endoscopy simulator: skills transfer to real surgery

Surgical simulators offer substantial benefits for technical skills training by providing a risk-free environment for practice. However, access to effective simulators in surgical education remains limited. This study aimed to validate a synthetic lumbar spinal endoscopy simulator through skills transfer and assess its educational applicability.

Forty medical students were randomized to simulator training (n=20) or control (n=20). After training, all performed supervised diagnostic endoscopy. Procedures were recorded and evaluated by a blinded examiner for total time, look-downs, instrument loss, supervisor interventions, and Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills (GOALS). A Likert-scale questionnaire assessed perceptions of simulation training.

The intervention group showed superior performance, with reductions of 43.7% in procedure time, 85.3% in look-downs, 75.9% in interventions, 93.3% in instrument loss duration, and 91.2% in total loss percentage (p<0.001). GOALS scores were significantly higher in all domains (p<0.001). All participants endorsed incorporating simulation into medical education.

The simulator demonstrated strong transfer validity, significantly improving surgical performance. GOALS scores tripled among simulator-trained participants, and acceptance of the simulator for educational use was unanimous..