Learning, teaching, and training in microsurgery: A systematic review
Systematic review published in Hand Surg Rehabil (2022)
Abstract
Numerous microsurgical training techniques and materials have been developed to reduce animal use and training costs. This systematic review aimed to catalog the available microsurgery learning methods on non-living material in order to define an educational program. The PubMed database was searched for English and French articles related to the initial learning of microsurgery with inert, non-living, or digital material and containing the keywords "microsurgery", "non-living", "simulation" and "virtual reality". Among the 488 articles found, 82 were included. This work reports the main microsurgery learning supports. They were classified according to the material used: inert material, cadaveric animal tissues, human cadaver model, virtual reality, and digital technologies. The educational program proposes here is a two-step program that uses non-living material (basic and deepening) before progressing to living models. This initial learning phase teaches basic microsurgical skills (precision, tremor management, and magnification). Then, frequent home training sessions help to maintain the acquired skills. Ethical, organizational, and economic constraints limit access to animal models. Therefore, inert models seem to be ideal support for initial microsurgical learning. The multiplicity of models described makes it possible to achieve progressive learning depending on which models are available.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Systematic review of 82 articles cataloging non-living microsurgery learning supports across inert material, cadaveric tissue, human cadaver, virtual reality and digital technologies.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
This systematic review cataloged available microsurgery learning methods using non-living, inert, or digital materials, analyzing 82 of 488 identified articles to propose a two-step progressive educational program beginning with non-living models before advancing to living ones. Training supports were classified into categories including inert materials, cadaveric animal tissues, human cadaver models, virtual reality, and digital technologies, with inert models identified as ideal for initial learning. This article has no direct relevance to hirudotherapy, the leech secretome, or the American Society of Hirudotherapy's domain—it contains no mention of leeches, leech-derived compounds, or hirudotherapy techniques.
Citation
Learning, teaching, and training in microsurgery: A systematic review.
Gavira N et al. · Hand surgery & rehabilitation, 2022
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