Microsurgery training with smartphone

Abstract

Microsurgery is widely used in experimental research models and clinical surgery. However, microsurgical applications require precise technical skills and continuous training. Here, we proposed a low cost, practical microsurgery model, which can be easily applied using smartphones at home or at office. Test platform was created using latex gloves, and a phone holder was then positioned at one side of a table. A smartphone with 10x magnification was secured on the phone holder. Microsurgical device habit, stitching and knotting exercises by making cuts at different angles on the glove model were performed, which was recorded live under the 10x magnification of the phone camera.

We believe that the practical microsurgery model presented in this study can form an important part of basic microsurgery education and also act as an alternative training model owing to its ease of application, easy accessibility and low cost.

Zusammenfassung

Mikrochirurgie erfordern präzise technische Fähigkeiten und kontinuierliches Training. Im folgenden Beitrag stellen wir ein kostengünstiges, praktisches Mikrochirurgie Modell vor, das einfach per Smartphone angewendet werden kann. Die Testplattform wurde unter Verwendung von Latexhandschuhen erstellt, und eine Smartphonehalterung wurde dann auf einer Seite des Arbeitsbereiches positioniert. Ein Smartphone mit 10-facher Vergrößerung wurde daran befestigt. Es wurden verschiedene mikrochirurgische Näh- und Knotenübungen, die unter der 10-fachen Vergrößerung der Telefonkamera live aufgenommen wurden.

Wir sind der Überzeugung, dass dieses einfache und praktische Trainingsmodell einen wichtigen Teil der mikrochirurgischen Grundausbildung vermitteln kann und aufgrund seiner einfachen Anwendung, leichten Zugänglichkeit und geringen Kosten auch als alternatives Trainingsmodell dienen kann.

Key words

Microsurgery - training model - smartphone

Schlüsselwörter

Mikorchirurgie - Traniningsmodell - Smartphone

• References

• 1 Thiede A, Timmermann W, Gassel HJ. Experimental microsurgery as an educational concept and scientific basis for research group: principles of technical development of animal models in transplantation research. In: Timmermann W, Gassel HJ, Thiede A. et al., (Eds.) Organ Transplantation in Rats and Mice. Springer; Berlin, Heidelberg: 1998: 17-24
• 2 Singh M, Ziolkowski N, Ramachandran S. et al. Development of a fiveday basic microsurgery simulation training course: a cost analysis. Arch PlastSurg 2014; 41: 213-7
• 3 Shurey S, Akelina Y, Legagneux J. et al. The rat model in microsurgery education: classical exercises and new horizons. Arch PlastSurg 2014; 41: 201-8
• 4 Fanua SP, Kim J, Shaw Wilgis EF. Alternative model for teaching microsurgery. Microsurgery 2001; 21: 379
• 5 Klein I, Steger U, Timmermann W. et al. Microsurgical training course for clinicians and scientists at a German university hospital: a 10-year experience. Microsurgery 2003; 23: 461-5
• 6 Inoue T, Tsutsumi K, Adachi S. et al. Effectiveness of suturing training with 10–0 nylon under fixed and maximum magnification (20) using desk type microscope. Surg Neurol 2006; 66: 183-7
• 7 MacDonald JD. Learning to perform microvascular anastomosis. Skull Base 2005; 15: 229-40
• 8 Lahiri A, Lim AY, Qifen Z. et al. Microsurgical skills training: A new concept for simulation of vessel-wall suturing. Microsurgery 2005; 25: 21
• 9 Guler MM, Rao GS. Canniesburn ‘‘ever-ready’’ model to practise microsurgery. Br J Plast Surg 1990; 43: 381-2
• 10 Kim DM, Kang JW, Kim JK. et al. Microsurgery training using a smartphone. Microsurgery 2015; 35: 500-1
• 11 Karakawa R, Yoshimatsu H, Nakatsukasa S. et al. A new method for microsurgery training using a smartphone and a laptop computer. Microsurgery 2018; 38: 124-5