title: Training Medical Novices in Spinal Microsurgery: Does the Modality Matter? A Pilot Study Comparing Traditional Microscopic Surgery and a Novel Robotic Optoelectronic Visualization Tool.
abstract: The operative microscope has been a staple instrument in the neurosurgical operating room over the last 50 years. With advances in optoelectronics, options such as robotically controlled high magnification have become available. Such robotically controlled optoelectronic systems may offer new opportunities in surgical technique and teaching. However, traditionally trained surgeons may find it hard to accept newer technologies due to an inherent bias emerging from their previous background. We, therefore, studied how a medically naïve population in a pilot study would meet set microsurgical goals in a cadaver experiment using either a conventional operative microscope or BrightMatter™ Servo system, ​a robotically controlled optoelectronic system (Synaptive Medical, Toronto, Ontario, Canada). We found that the relative ease in teaching medical novices with a robotically controlled optoelectronic system was more valuable when compared to using a modern-day surgical microscope.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery, Swedish Neuroscience Institute.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moisi
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery, Seattle Science Foundation.
authors.forename: R Shane
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tubbs
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery, Swedish Neuroscience Institute.
authors.forename: Jeni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Page
authors.affiliation: Seattle Science Foundation.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: Seattle Science Foundation.
authors.forename: Brittni
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.affiliation: Seattle Science Foundation.
authors.forename: Tyler
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laws
authors.affiliation: Seattle Science Foundation.
authors.forename: Haylie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery, Swedish Neuroscience Institute.
authors.forename: Rod J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Oskouian
keywords: operative microscope; robotically controlled optoelectronic system; servo system; surgical training