Motion Analysis of Ear Surgery Training on an Ovine Model

Introduction: Motion analysis is crucial for surgical training, especially in intricate procedures like ear surgery. Hand movements during myringotomy and stapedectomy training on a sheep’s head model were evaluated in this study using accelerometer-based sensors. The aim is to identify specific motion characteristics-including tremor and speed consistency-that distinguish surgical expertise levels and quantify the efficiency gap between trainees and experts. Materials and methods: Participants (n=24) were divided into three groups: residents (n=10), specialists (n=10), and senior surgeons (n=4). Accelerometer sensors captured data on time, path length, acceleration, tremor, and speed consistency. Data analysis utilized the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Mann-Whitney U post-hoc comparisons with Bonferroni correction to identify specific inter-group differences. Results: Significant differences were found across all parameters (p < 0.001). Senior surgeons demonstrated the highest efficiency, performing stapedectomy 70.6% faster than residents and 42.9% faster than specialists. Notable gaps in stability were observed; residents exhibited a 14% lower speed consistency and 66.7% higher tremor levels compared to seniors. Specialists occupied an intermediate phase but still maintained a 42.8% higher tremor rate than senior surgeons, indicating a prolonged refinement period for fine motor control. Conclusions: The data reveal a clear, quantifiable learning curve. Residents require significantly more time and exhibit less controlled movements, while specialists show technical refinement but have not yet reached the high-level economy of motion seen in seniors. These objective metrics, particularly efficiency gaps and stability consistency, can help tailor training programs to focus on precision and economy of motion.