Microsurgical Practice with Use of Smartphone Camera as the Microscopic Field

Abstract

Summary: Accessibility of microsurgical equipment is a major barrier to proper training of surgeons before live patient free flap surgery. A technique is presented that uses a smartphone camera as the microscopic field, eliminating the need for an expensive operative microscope for surgical practice. A convenient and cost-effective simulation protocol could reduce the time frame of the microsurgery learning curve. Furthermore, the use of the smartphone video function may allow improved feedback by mentors, improving access and communication between microsurgical teachers and learners. The PocketSuture smartphone stand is a commercially available device that allows the smartphone camera to be used as magnification. The proposed education protocol included suture practice, vessel dissection, and free tissue transfer in nonliving animal models, with vessel anastomosis and patency confirmation performed with a smartphone camera for field magnification. Video of the suturing technique allowed feedback from the mentor. A progressive suturing protocol leading to the ability to perform microsurgical anastomosis on nonliving animal models was developed. The basic costs for the stand, instrument set and suture were less than $500. The PocketSuture smartphone stand can be used for microsurgical training with real-time video for plastic surgery learners with limited access to microscopes and local mentors.