title: Microgravity effects on fine motor skills: tying surgical knots during parabolic flight.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The health provider on a space exploration mission cannot evacuate a patient to Earth. Contingency plans for medical intervention must be designed for autonomy. This study measured the effect of microgravity on performance of fine motor skills such as basic surgical tasks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight subjects, six with medical and two with non-medical backgrounds, were evaluated during parabolic microgravity flights aboard NASA's KC-135. We evaluated their skill in tying surgical knots on simulated skin made of silicone using standard techniques for minimally invasive surgery. LabView software was developed to archive forces applied to the laparoscopic tool handles during knot-tying. Studies were controlled for medication (ScopeDex) and the aircraft environment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All participants completed the tests successfully. The data indicated that increased force was applied to the instruments and knot quality decreased during flight compared with ground control sessions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Specific metrics of surgical task performance are essential in developing education modules for providers of medical care during exploration-class missions.
authors.affiliation: Medical Informatics and Technology Applications Consortium, Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 E. Marshall St., P.O. Box 980480, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. arafiq@vcu.edu
authors.forename: Azhar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rafiq
authors.forename: Russ
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hummel
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lavrentyev
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Derry
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Ronald C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Merrell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D009048:Motor Skills; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014893:Weightlessness