Training and evaluating spinal surgeons: the development of novel performance measures.
METHODS
Cohort study.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a series of novel assessment measures for use during a lumbar pedicle cannulation task.


BACKGROUND
There is increasing pressure being placed on the surgical community to develop appropriate assessment measures of technical skills as an indicator of surgical competence. To date, little research has been performed in this area in spinal surgery.


METHODS
Twelve novice and 7 expert spine surgeons cannulated a complete set of lumbar pedicles on a synthetic model. Electromagnetic markers were traced to record their dominant hand and arm movements while the forces applied to the model were measured using a small force plate. The amount of wrist motion, mean forces, peak forces, and task time were evaluated. Following task completion, angles of pedicle cannulation and the number and location of all breaches in the models were recorded.


RESULTS
Novice surgeons used less mean force (91 N vs. 115 N, P = 0.001) but required more time to perform each cannulation task (12.4 seconds vs. 8.2 seconds, P < 0.001). Cannulation by novices demonstrated a greater mean number of frank (far lateral) pedicle breaches (1.5 vs. 0 per individual, P = 0.002), but no differences in the angles of cannulation were seen (P = 0.988).


CONCLUSIONS
Four variables, 3 involving process measures and 1 an outcome measure, can be used to distinguish between novice and expert spine surgeons using a simple lumbar spine pedicle cannulation task, providing evidence of their construct validity. Knowledge of these differences may be useful in objective evaluation of surgical competence and providing precise feedback during the training of this skill, thereby enhancing learning.
Woodrow
Sarah I
SI
Department of Surgery and Wilson Centre for Research in Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Dubrowski
Adam
A
Khokhotva
Mykola
M
Backstein
David
D
Rampersaud
Y Raja
YR
Massicotte
Eric M
EM
D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards*; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D007858:Learning; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D009048:Motor Skills; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D016544:Patient Simulation; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis