A basic model for practice of intracranial microsurgery

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6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Intracranial microsurgical procedures often take place in a deep location, with a limited access space, necessitating the use of long knee-bend instruments and limiting the degree of movement. We devised an easily accessible model that allows the neurosurgical trainee to gain familiarity with intracranial microsurgical techniques. Methods: The model consists of a pedestal, on which 2 movable vices are placed. The object to be practiced on can be placed on a working area, or the vices may hold the object. The pedestal can be covered by a box with a centered hole. When using this box, the vices can move together in the vertical plane over a trajectory of 5.5 cm to simulate superficial or deep microsurgical procedures. To simulate several sizes of hypothetical craniotomies, 3 rings can be used to decrease the diameter of centered hole in the box. Results: Using the model, these techniques were judged to be technically more challenging and difficult to execute through the centered hole. Conclusions: Our model can be a useful method to train for basic intracranial microsurgery.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)254-256
Number of pages3
JournalSurgical neurology
Volume71
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2009

Keywords

  • Education
  • Microsurgery
  • Neurosurgical procedures

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