Rural neurosurgical and spinal laboratory setup.
BACKGROUND
Increasing focus has been placed on the use of simulation in neurosurgical and spinal surgical training worldwide, with the establishment of many surgical laboratories dedicated to such purpose. So far, the opportunities for hands-on cadaveric training in the areas of neurosurgery and spine surgery remain limited in Australia, owing to various factors, including the abolition of dissection in many medical schools, high maintenance requirements and widespread geographical distribution of surgical trainees.


METHODS
We established a cadaver-based neurosurgical laboratory based at the medical school of the University of New England in Armidale, Australia, which is used by the surgical dissection course for junior surgical trainees offered by the university. We reported our experiences in setting up a neurosurgical research laboratory, and explored the feasibility of establishing a cost-effective anatomical research facility in a rural setting in Australia.


RESULTS
We found that Genelyn(TM)-fixed cadavers had limited movements of the head as required for adequate surgical positioning and exposure. Furthermore, we discovered that bodies embalmed via the femoral vein had poorly perfused heads after surgical exposure, and thus decapitation had to be performed unfortunately for our purpose. Cadaver samples and surgical equipment were sourced from various veterinary practices and commercial companies. Using human and animal cadavers, this laboratory provided trainees with hands-on opportunities to improve their surgical skills and neuroanatomical knowledge, as well as develop familiarity with highly specialized surgical equipment.


CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrated the feasibility of establishing a cost-effective neurosurgical research laboratory in Australia and discussed various aspects of its maintenance.
School of Medicine, University of New England, Armidale, Australia ;
Adam
A
Smith
Department of Neurosurgery, Vita-Salute University, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy ;
Filippo
F
Gagliardi
School of Medicine, University of New England, Armidale, Australia ;
Nicholas Robert
NR
Pelzer
School of Medicine, University of New England, Armidale, Australia ;
Jacob
J
Hampton
School of Medicine, University of New England, Armidale, Australia;; Macquarie Neurosurgery, Australian School of Advanced Medicine, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia;
Anthony Minh Tien
AM
Chau
School of Medicine, University of New England, Armidale, Australia ;
Fiona
F
Stewart
Department of Neurosurgery, Vita-Salute University, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy ;
Pietro
P
Mortini
School of Medicine, University of New England, Armidale, Australia;; Department of Neurosurgery, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Cristian
C
Gragnaniello
Neurosurgery laboratory; skull base; spine; training, microsurgery
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