A Microsurgical Skills Curriculum to Develop Unconscious Competence

Abstract

The attainment of microsurgical competency is an important milestone for plastic surgery trainees. Technical skill and a practiced disposition are required to successfully perform microsurgical procedures. Microsurgical skills curricula may foster both proficiency with technical movements and facilitate performance with minimal cognitive burden while using the operating microscope. The microsurgical skills curriculum presented in this article focuses on three fundamental principles: intrinsic muscle strength, accuracy and precision of movement, and supervised practice. Progressive operative entrustment of trainees is earned through successful completion of deliberate microsurgical exercises rather than timed anastomosis trials. The overarching goal of this curriculum is to develop unconscious competence in microsurgery.

Keywords

intrinsic strength - unconscious competence - supervised practice

Publication History

Received: 17 April 2024

Accepted: 22 June 2024

Article published online:
22 July 2024

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