Experiences with basic microsurgical training programs and skill assessment methods at the University of Debrecen, Hungary

Abstract

During the past decades microsurgical training programs together with skill assessment methods had been developing intensively worldwide. Concerning the teaching of basic techniques at various levels, we aimed to summarize the education program types and experiences at our department, in order to define the way of continuity. All in the hope that this summary might contain useful information for other educators as well. About 50 years ago, in the late 1960s, microsurgical basic education had been established in Debrecen. Since the 1990s multilevel education programs have been developed, starting in undergraduate years up to the postgraduate training, residency and continuous medical education programs. In the last three decades about 2,300 participants completed courses, including over 470 residents. The ones who already succeeded microsurgical course as medical students, during residency program could reach better results and skill development. Concluding thoughts, the traditional methods and special experiences are highly important in microsurgical education. The necessary duration and individual training approach are emphasized. Standardization (self and international), comparability, accessibility, providing milestones of microsurgical skills are key factors. Proper feedback and skill assessment (experiences, internationally recognized scores, or combinations) are indispensable, but have to be fitted to the characteristic elements of the course.

An Innovative Model for Microsurgical Training at a Spine Surgery Center in Mexico City

“…Following completion of the training, the participants demonstrated significant improvements in the time required to complete the exercise, the number of knots successfully tied, and the items assessed on SMaRT scales, as well as the participants' perceptions of their confidence as a result of the training. In the present study, a 5-day microsurgery training program was implemented based on previous studies [2][3][4]9,[12][13][14][15]. Nevertheless, there has not yet been a consensus regarding the ideal duration of a microsurgery course.…”

“…The "three towers" exercise was specifically designed to improve movement in a restricted space with varying depths and directions [16]. In the next exercise, trainees erased letters, which was intended to teach them how to handle tissue in a careful, appropriate, and safe manner while causing the least amount of damage to it [14]. A bubble wrap suturing procedure involved cutting, dissecting, and suturing.…”

“…In a cardboard card printed in Arial 12 font and measuring 9 x 5 cm, the caption reads "Mexico City Spine Clinic: Microsurgical training pad". The trainee had to use a needle to erase the letters without damaging the cardboard that surrounds the letters (Figure 2C) [14].…”

An early microvascular training program of dental intern students and junior residents: a comparative prospective study

“…The trainees were randomly divided into 25 groups, with 4 trainees in each group. The trainee’s size was conducted based on previous comparable studies [ 8 , 18 , 19 ]. Based on ARRIVE guidelines, all rat experiments were carried out at the Advanced Science Research Center, Department of Animal Resources, with approval from Xian Jiaotong University, Animal Research Committee (ID: 2022 − 1522), and has been written informed consents were obtained from all trainees and instructors (two experienced microsurgeons) who followed the Helsinki principles.…”

An Innovative Simulation Model for Microvascular Training

“…Preclinical/clinical microsurgical training in a simulated intraoperative setting is essential for the obtainment and exercise of microsurgical techniques. 1–3 Numerous microsurgical training models have already been created, 4–10 including synthetic models, animal and human cadaveric models, and living animal models. However, the structure of synthetic models differs from actual vascular tissue structures, 11,12 and cadaveric models are limited because of the lack of a functional circulatory system.…”