Effectiveness of a microsurgery training program using a chicken wing model
Prospective study published in J Plast Surg Hand Surg (2021)
Abstract
Microsurgical skills are essential for plastic surgeons in the modern times. Chicken wing model for microsurgery training offers an easy and cost-effective alternative to the traditional live rat model. A prospective study was conducted over a period of 6 months. Fifteen resident doctors in the department of plastic surgery were enrolled. Each of them underwent one session of microsurgery training on chicken wings (ulnar artery) every week for 15 weeks. The pre-training and post-training microvascular anastomosis were recorded and analyzed by two blinded investigators using a modification of the Structured Assessment of Microsurgery Skills (SAMS) tool. The pre- and post-training scores were compared. Twelve residents completed the requisite number of training sessions and were included in the final analysis. The mean diameter of the chicken wing ulnar artery was 1.04 mm (SD:0.11). All trainees demonstrated an improvement in the total scores. There was significant improvement in the mean scores (Pre-training: 33.46 vs. post-training: 41.42, p = 0.002). There was also a significant decrease in the total number of errors (Pre-training: 6.75 vs. post-training: 4.79, p = 0.012). However, there was no significant improvement in the average time taken to perform anastomosis (Pre-training: 58.03 mins vs. post-training: 52.51 mins, p = 0.182). We concluded that chicken wing is a useful training model for microsurgery. It helps in improving the overall microsurgical skill as well as reducing the average number of errors. This model is cost-effective, easily available, and easy to set-up. The wide assortment of vessels with varying diameters provides opportunities for training of microsurgeons of different skill levels.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
15-week chicken wing ulnar artery training improved mean SAMS scores from 33.46 to 41.42 in 12 residents and reduced total errors from 6.75 to 4.79.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This prospective study enrolled 15 plastic surgery residents in a 15-week microsurgery training program using chicken wing ulnar artery models (mean diameter 1.04 mm), with pre- and post-training anastomoses assessed by blinded investigators using a modified Structured Assessment of Microsurgery Skills tool. Twelve completing residents showed significant improvement in mean scores (33.46 to 41.42, p=0.002) and reduction in errors (6.75 to 4.79, p=0.012), though no significant improvement in anastomosis time. The article has no direct relevance to hirudotherapy—it concerns surgical simulation training with no leech-related content. The only indirect connection is that microsurgical skills are relevant to flap procedures where leech therapy may later be used for venous congestion, but this is not discussed.
Citation
Effectiveness of a microsurgery training program using a chicken wing model.
Dave A et al. · Journal of plastic surgery and hand surgery, 2021
Added to ASH library: May 27, 2026 · Site last updated: June 18, 2026