Assessing the impact of neurosurgery and neuroanatomy simulation using 3D non-cadaveric models amongst selected African medical students

Berjo Dongmo Takoutsing; Ubraine Njineck Wunde; Yvan Zolo; Geneviève Endalle; Dieunedort Arnold Menga Djaowé; Léopoldine Sybile Ngoune Tatsadjieu; Ines Miste Zourmba; Aminatou Dadda; Roland Ndouh Nchufor; Cyrille Duquesne Nkouonlack; Ernestine Renée Atangana Bikono; Jean Paul Oumarou Magadji; Casimir Fankem; Alain Bertrand Tchoupo Jibia; Ignatius Esene

doi:10.3389/fmedt.2023.1190096

Assessing the impact of neurosurgery and neuroanatomy simulation using 3D non-cadaveric models amongst selected African medical students

Front Med Technol. 2023 May 4:5:1190096. doi: 10.3389/fmedt.2023.1190096. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Berjo Dongmo Takoutsing^{1

2}, Ubraine Njineck Wunde^{1

3}, Yvan Zolo^{2

4}, Geneviève Endalle^{1

2

5}, Dieunedort Arnold Menga Djaowé^{1

6}, Léopoldine Sybile Ngoune Tatsadjieu^{1

6}, Ines Miste Zourmba^{1

6}, Aminatou Dadda^{1

6}, Roland Ndouh Nchufor³, Cyrille Duquesne Nkouonlack⁵, Ernestine Renée Atangana Bikono⁷, Jean Paul Oumarou Magadji⁸, Casimir Fankem⁹, Alain Bertrand Tchoupo Jibia⁷, Ignatius Esene^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Research Division, Winners Foundation, Yaounde, Cameroon.
² Research Department, Association of Future African Neurosurgeons, Yaounde, Cameroon.
³ Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, Bambili, Cameroon.
⁴ Global Surgery Division, Faculty of Health Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁵ Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
⁶ Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Garoua, Garoua, Cameroon.
⁷ Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon.
⁸ Yaounde Military Hospital, Yaounde, Cameroon.
⁹ Yaounde Emergency Center, Yaounde, Cameroon.

Abstract

Background: Laboratory dissections are essential to acquire practical skills to perform neurosurgical procedures. Despite being traditionally done on cadavers, they are often unavailable and suffer from cultural barriers in the African context. Non-cadaveric UpSurgeOn neurosurgery models have been developed to bridge this barrier, providing an almost similar experience with the human body. This study aimed to assess the impact of the UpSurgeOn hands-on-touch non-cadaver model training amongst selected Cameroon medical students.

Methods: An anonymous 35-item questionnaire was distributed online using Google drive systems to medical students who attended UpSurgeOn's hands-on-touch non-cadaver model training course. These questions aimed to capture data on previous experience with neuroanatomy and neurosurgery practicals and the perception, attitudes, and impact of the UpSurgeOn neurosurgery tool.

Results: Eighty-six students completed the survey. The mean age was 21.2 ± 1.868 years, 61.6% were males with 62.8% of respondents being medical students in preclinical years. Before the training, 29.4% had a fair knowledge of neuroanatomy. Textbooks and Youtube videos were the main sources of neuroanatomy and neurosurgery knowledge for more than half of the respondents. Up to 91.5% had no prior exposure to a neuroanatomy/neurosurgery cadaver laboratory dissection, and 22.6% and 17.6% had witnessed and performed at least one craniotomy before, respectively. There were 11.1%, 15.5%, and 31.3% of our respondents who had used a surgical microscope, a neurosurgical instrument, and the UpSurgeOn Neurosurgery tool before, respectively. The majority perceived the UpSurgeOn tool easy to use and felt they needed to learn just a few things before getting going with the box. Most thought of increasing the use of the UpSurgeOn Box and saw the need to be part of the training curriculum. Finally, the majority felt this tool helped to increase familiarity and acquire neurosurgical skills, and to develop the orientation skills needed during neurosurgical approaches.

Conclusion: Undergraduate exposure to traditional neurosurgery/neuroanatomy labs is limited in Cameroon. Neurosurgery/neuroanatomy practical skills are gained essentially using non-practical means. Most students found the UpSurgeOn tool user-friendly, saw the need to incorporate it as part of their training, and perceived it to be essential in getting acquainted with neurosurgical skills.

Keywords: Cameroon; brain; cadaver; neuroanatomy; neurosurgery; simulator; students; virtual reality.