Simulation Laboratory

The simulation laboratory facility is open to residents 24 hours seven days a week. The lab has two Zeiss operating microscopes, which are equipped with a camera and video monitor. The facility is also equipped with stereotaxic head holders, surgical instruments and drills. Formal instructions and surgical demonstrations in both skull base and spine surgery are provided by the faculty 1-2 times per month. The microsurgery training is a 40-hour course. Residents are encouraged to use the facility when time permits to practice skull base, spine and microsurgical techniques to gain proficiency.

Skull base surgery

The skull base laboratory provides comprehensive training for residents on skull base surgery approaches with an emphasis on technique and neuroanatomy.

Microsurgery

The microsurgery laboratory provides a hands-on workshop designed to develop and refine microsurgical techniques. Residents are taught how to perform an arterial and venous anastomosis and nerve coaptation using an animal model.

Spine surgery and minimally invasive spine surgery

Residents are taught a number of spine surgical approaches with emphasis on surgical techniques and anatomy. In addition, a minimally invasive spine surgery simulator is used to simulate the surgical approaches. Animal cadaveric spines are used as models.