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.
Resumen
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.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio prospectivo inscribió a 15 residentes de cirugía plástica en un programa de entrenamiento en microcirugía de 15 semanas utilizando modelos de arteria cubital de ala de pollo (diámetro medio 1,04 mm), con anastomosis previas y posteriores al entrenamiento evaluadas por investigadores cegados mediante una herramienta modificada de Evaluación Estructurada de Habilidades de Microcirugía. Los doce residentes que completaron el estudio mostraron una mejora significativa en las puntuaciones medias (de 33,46 a 41,42, p=0,002) y una reducción de los errores (de 6,75 a 4,79, p=0,012), aunque no se observó una mejora significativa en el tiempo de anastomosis. El artículo no tiene relevancia directa con la hirudoterapia: se refiere al entrenamiento mediante simulación quirúrgica sin contenido relacionado con sanguijuelas. La única conexión indirecta es que las habilidades microquirúrgicas son pertinentes para procedimientos de colgajos en los que la terapia con sanguijuelas puede emplearse posteriormente para la congestión venosa, pero esto no se aborda en el artículo.
Citación
Effectiveness of a microsurgery training program using a chicken wing model.
Dave A et al. · Journal of plastic surgery and hand surgery, 2021
Contexto clínico relacionado
Explore cómo esta investigación se conecta con la práctica clínica
Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026