Work

Visuo-spatial ability and speed of execution of a complex surgical task

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Objective Visuo-spatial ability (VSA) plays a role in preoperative planning, anatomical navigation and decision-making during surgery. This study aimed to test hypothesis that a correlation link existed between VSA and the speed of execution of a complex surgical task. Method The study was carried out on 49 students just before starting their surgical internship, at Lille Medical Faculty in October 2023. They answered a biographical questionnaire including confounding factors on VSA, then completed the Mental Rotation Test – A (MRT-A). They were timed on two separate tasks: conforming a titanium plate to mandibular angles on a 3D printed model, and excising a lesion from the helix of a silicone cast ear model, followed by a reconstruction using a “small ear” flap. Results A weak correlation between the MRT-A score and the time required to complete the right and left plates conformation (r = -0.377, p = 0.007; r = -0.349, p = 0.014 respectively). There was a moderate correlation between the MRT-A score and the time required to complete the entire plate conformation workshop (r = -0.457, p = 0.001). There was no significant correlation between the MRT-A score and the time required to complete the ear workshop (r = -0.127; p = 0.375). A significant regression equation was found [F(2,48) = 104.960; p < 0.0001)], with a R 2 of 0.814. Conclusion A correlation was found between VSA and the speed of a conformation of titanium plate on mandibular angle, but no link was established between speed and performance of a complex surgical task on flapless excision suture workshop.

Source: The Surgeon

DOI: 10.1016/j.surge.2025.02.001

Authors: Gaspard Gregoire, Florent Barry, Guillaume Lacroix, Pierre Guerreschi, Romain Nicot