Establishing a Comprehensive Program in Microsurgical Training - The Advanced Course of the Italian Society for Microsurgery

Introduction: Some basic microsurgery courses are available in Italy in different cities but no advanced courses were present until 1999. The Italian Society for Microsurgery, in cooperation with the Italian Society for Surgery of the hand and Cardarelli Center of Biotechnologies in Naples, starts with a new program for an advanced micro-course.

Methodology and Material: We would like to present this initiative which in 2012 became international for the presence of foreign students. The course is aimed at providing a substantial practical-theoretical background in vascular and neuronal microsurgery through a program developed in one year for a total of 137 hours, 100 hours of practical and 37 of theoretical activities, organized in 15 day, each divided in three sections.

A final practical examination is expected to show the acquisition of the practical techniques. A multiple choice questionnaire will be administered and a thesis will be discussed. All participants will receive a Participation Certificate, while those who passed the final examination will receive a “Diploma Certificate in Microsurgical Techniques.” Participants who didn’t pass the examination have the possibility to repeat it at the end of the next scheduled edition, after having attended the last week of the course. During the course, each participant will develop a research project aimed at producing an experimental thesis (Work Project). The student will be able to attend the Center for a further year with additional costs. In alternative a non-experimental thesis will be discussed during the final examination.

All participants will receive the wholly documentation of the Theoretical lessons at the Hand Surgery National Congress as regards for hand specialization.

Results: We report the results on 85 student that follow this advanced course during six editions.

Conclusions: A great interest in microsurgery is now developing in young surgeon in Italy. We do not have in our University a standardized program for microsurgery. The Italian Society for Microsurgery seeks to help residency schools to train young surgeons to improve their microsurgical technique