Motion capture device reveals a quick learning curve in vascular anastomosis training

Abstract

Purpose Surgical procedures are often evaluated subjectively, and an objective evaluation has been considered difficult to make and rarely reported, especially in open surgery, where the range of motion is wide. This study evaluated the effectiveness of surgical suturing training as an educational tool using the Leap Motion Controller (LMC), which can capture hand movements and reproduce them as data comprising parametric elements. Methods We developed an off-the-job training system (Off-JT) in our department, mainly using prosthetic grafts and various anastomotic methodologies with graded difficulty levels. We recruited 50 medical students (novice group) and 6 vascular surgeons (expert group) for the study. We evaluated four parameters for intraoperative skills: suturing time, slope of the roll, smoothness, and rate of excess motion. Results All 4 parameters distinguished the skill of the novice group at 1 and 10 h off-JT. After 10 h of off-JT, all 4 parameters of the novices were comparable to those of the expert group. Conclusion Our education system using the LMC is relatively inexpensive and easy to set up, with a free application for analyses, serving as an effective and ubiquitous educational tool for young surgeons.