Mastering Brain Surgery: A Hands-on Training Model with Calf Brains

Neurosurgery trainees need to become experts in a delicate task called subpial corticectomy. This involves removing a brain lesion without damaging nearby healthy tissue. To help trainees practice, a new model was created using calf brains. The model allows for continuous tracking of surgical instruments during the simulation. A group of skilled participants tested the model to check if it's useful and if there are any differences between skilled and less skilled users. A key aspect of this model is that it provides real-time feedback on how well trainees are performing. This is crucial because in real surgeries, precise movements are essential to avoid harming healthy brain tissue. The study aimed to find out if experienced surgeons found the model helpful and if there were any noticeable differences in how well skilled and less skilled participants could use it. Using calf brains for this simulation is interesting because it closely mimics the texture and structure of human brains. This makes it a valuable tool for training. The study focused on two types of validity: face validity, which checks if the model looks and feels like the real thing, and content validity, which assesses if the model teaches the right skills. The results showed that the model had high face validity, meaning experts agreed it was a good representation of a real surgical scenario. However, content validity was less clear. This suggests that while the model feels realistic, there might be some aspects of the real surgery that it doesn't fully capture. Overall, this study highlights the importance of realistic training models in medical education. It also points out that even though a model might feel real, it's essential to ensure it teaches all the necessary skills. This is a step in the right direction for improving neurosurgical training.