DEVELOPING A STANDARDIZED TEST FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF SUTURING SKILL IN NOVICE MICROSURGEONS

Suturing performance was assessed for 13 novice microsurgeons througho ut a 4-5 day microsurgical training course. Time to complete a suture (from needle insertion to completion of tie-off) was assessed on a sta ndardized suture task, for two sutures at the beginning and end of eac h training day. For days 2-4, suturing performance with actual tissue was also assessed at both the beginning and end of each day. An averag e learning curve for suturing performance on the standardized test was developed and demonstrated huge performance improvement. A consistent and significant relationship existed between trainees' performance on the standardized suturing test and suturing of actual tissue. Thus th e standardized test appears both to reflect actual suturing performanc e and to be sensitive to improvements in suturing skill that result fr om practice. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.