Correlation between microsurgical course performance and future surgical training selection by intern and junior residents.

How to improve a young surgeon's skills in microsurgical techniques have been tried and practiced. From 1998 to 2006, microsurgical training was arranged for 285 interns and 104 junior residents in the surgical department. Thirty-nine percent (40/104) of the residents and 20% (58/285) of the interns were graded as "good." Forty-six percent (48/104) of the residents and 46% (131/285) of the interns were graded as "fine." Fifteen percent (16/104) of the residents and 34% (96/285) of the interns were graded as "poor." Fifty-three percent of the interns who were graded "good" and 31% of the interns who were graded "fine" would later choose a surgical field for further training during their residency. Students who were graded "poor" did not select any surgical residency program. The difference was statistical significant. The results of the observed skills practice can be used as a direction for further training in a subspecialty for young doctors. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.