Neurosurgery is a high-stakes surgical specialty where errors can result in significant patient mortality and morbidity. The amount of force applied on the brain simultaneously by the multiple different instruments during complex neurosurgical procedures is a critical safety metric that, to the investigators' knowledge, has not been previously measured in a realistic operative environment.
The investigators have therefore developed a simulation platform integrating an ex vivo calf brain and a 3D-printed skull model attached to a force sensor capable of capturing real-time forces applied to the brain. A cross-sectional case series study will be conducted to evaluate the validity of the system. Medical students, neurosurgical residents, neurosurgical fellows, and staff neurosurgeons from four Quebec institutions will be recruited to perform three simulated subpial resections each using our ex vivo calf brain simulation platform. The forces applied by the microscissors, bipolar forceps, and ultrasonic aspirator onto the brain will be captured along with kinematic data. This study aims to establish the face, content, construct, and convergent validity of this ex vivo calf brain force detection system.
Medical students, neurosurgical residents, neurosurgical fellows, and staff neurosurgeons from one of four Quebec institutions who do not fit the
For medical students, participation in a previous trial where they received training on the NeuroVR surgical simulator or the ex vivo calf brain simulation model.