Abstract
Background In 2017, our institution initiated a cadaver laboratory-based course dedicated to
teaching reconstructive microsurgery indications, preoperative planning, and flap
dissection. The goals of this study are to describe the demographics and experience
of participants/instructors and to evaluate the learning objectives and effectiveness
of the course.
Methods Penn Flap Course (PFC) participants were sent an anonymous survey at the inaugural
PFC 2017. Then, in 2019, both instructors and participants were sent a more comprehensive
survey. Surveys included questions regarding demographics, training background, experiences
in practice and/or training, and course evaluation.
Results At PFC 2017, participant response rate was 25% (12/44), and the primary reason for
attending the course was to observe and learn from instructor dissections (66.7%).
At PFC 2019, the response rate was 77.3% (17/22) for faculty and 73.0% (35/48) for
participants. Both in 2017 and 2019, the vast majority of participants reported perceived
improvement in understanding of flap dissection principles across all anatomic domains
(94.3%–100%). In 2019, when asked about their background experience, the majority
of participants reported comfort performing arterial and venous anastomosis without
supervision (71%–77%) and being least comfortable with head and neck (H&N) microsurgery
(mean comfort level: 5.2/10). Half of the participants (e.g., residents) find the
presence of a microsurgery fellow at their institution useful to their educational
experience. Instructors with additional fellowship training in microsurgery reported
performing a higher volume of free flaps per week (7 vs. 2.3) and per year (94.2 vs.
27.8; p < 0.05 for both) and trend toward performing more H&N reconstruction (p = 0.057).
Conclusion Participants feel least comfortable with H&N microsurgical reconstruction. Surgical
faculty with microsurgical fellowship training performs greater volume of microsurgical
cases with a trend toward more H&N reconstruction. A cadaver/lecture-based flap course
is an effective way to improve participants' perceived confidence and understanding
of complex flap and microsurgical reconstructive procedures.
Keywords
education - cadaver - flap course
