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We investigated the effect of physical activity on microsurgical performance. Forty novice candidates and 6 expert controls did a series of consecutive end-to-end microvascular anastomoses. To assess performance, we did a hand motion analysis and correlated the results with levels of habitual physical activity. Higher levels of activity in the novice candidates correlated with slower completion of anastomosis for medical students on day 1 (p=0.0035) and day 5 (p=0.0003). The same pattern was seen for postgraduate trainees on day 1 (p=0.024) and day 5 (p=0.0063). Higher level of activity also correlated with an increase in path length (total distance travelled and direction of travel) and in total movements on day 1 for medical students (p=0.016 and p=0.0021, respectively), and in total path length on day 1 for postgraduate trainees (p=0.0305).

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.bjoms.2016.01.008

Type

Journal

The British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery

Publication Date

11/2016

Volume

54

Pages

1025 - 1027

Addresses

Academic Plastic Surgery Group, Centre for Cutaneous Research, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Blizard Institute, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, London, UK. Electronic address: yasseralomran@yahoo.com.

Keywords

Humans, Exercise, Anastomosis, Surgical, Microsurgery, Clinical Competence, Students, Medical