Objective analysis tools in manual dexterity in Surgery are well reported in medical literature, specifically in robotic assisted surgery, microsurgery and simulated scenarios. they are generally accepted as objectively accurate, safe and in-depth assessment tools for training and educational purposes.
We would like to investigate if we can introduce these as an adjunct to performance feedback for trainees in Plastic Surgery in our DHB and potentially if relevant, for consideration in the future as a performance benchmark for SET trainees.
We have developed 3 surgical arrangements in this study, a wound closure scenario, a tendon repair scenario and a microsurgical anastomosis of a vessel designed to simulate flap surgery.
A total of 22 junior doctors were recruited for this study. SET and non SET registrars will be tasked with all three scenarios while the non registrars doctors will perform only the skin closure scenario.
The control in this study will be conducted by the presenting author in this study who has had involvement in previous simulation manual dexterity studies.
All performance in terms of vertical range of movement, horizontal range of movement and operative fields will be recorded in real-time via 2 high resolution recorders and assessed by 2 FRACS qualified consultants in Plastic Surgery. This will be combined with outcome measures in each scenario (e.g. proportion of simulated blood was transferred across anastomosed vessel without leak and maximum tension recorded across repaired tendon without rupture) to provide a calculated dexterity score using a validated dexterity measurement tool.
We hope that from this study, we can share how objective measurement of manual dexterity can be used as a training tool in Plastic Surgery in New Zealand.