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The chicken egg and skull model of endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery improves trainee drilling skills

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Abstract

Background

We verified the effectiveness of training in endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (eETSS) techniques using chicken eggs and a skull model.

Methods

We verified the area of eggshell removed by drilling when five residents and four experts used the chicken eggs and a skull model.

Results

When residents performed drilling on 10 eggs, a mean (± standard deviation [SD]) area of 31.2 ± 17.5 mm2 was removed from the first egg, and 104.8 ± 3.3 mm2 from the tenth and final egg, representing an increase in area and a decrease in SD. The experts performed the same drilling operation on a single egg, and removed a mean area of 257± 31.7 mm2. These results demonstrated that skills improved as a result of this training, and suggested that this method was also capable of overcoming the initial individual differences in the amount of force applied and ability. An obvious difference between residents and experts was seen in the area removed (p = 0.00011); however, this was attributed to differences in endoscopic manipulation, rather than drilling skill.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that this training method could be adequate for acquiring eETSS techniques. Although experts showed superior endoscopic manipulation, residents may also be able to acquire adequate endoscopic skills through further training, and our training method appears to offer an effective means of improving eETSS techniques.

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Disclosure

Dr. Kato has received support from GlaxoSmithkline K.K. and Otsuka Pharmaceutial Co., Ltd for non-study-related clinical or research efforts. Other authors report no conflict of interest concerning the materials or methods used in this study or the findings specified in this manuscript.

Author contributions to the study and manuscript preparation include the following. Conception and design: Okuda, Yamashita. Acquisition of data: all authors. Drafting the article: Okuda, Yamashita, Fujita. Critically revising the article: all authors. Approval of the final version of the manuscript on behalf of all authors: Okuda. Study supervision: Kato.

This study has no financial support.

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Correspondence to Takeshi Okuda.

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Okuda, T., Yamashita, J., Fujita, M. et al. The chicken egg and skull model of endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery improves trainee drilling skills. Acta Neurochir 156, 1403–1407 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-014-2035-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-014-2035-7

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