Background: Performance Heatmaps were designed to
visualize the spatial distribution of performance metrics during resection
of complex tumors. This novel methodology provides experts (neurosurgeons)
and trainees (residents and medical students) with visual feedback on their
neurosurgical performance during operative procedures.
Methods: Neurosurgeons (NS), senior residents
(SR), junior residents (JR) and medical students (MS) performed resection of
a complex tumor on the NeuroVR simulation platform. Metrics including time
spent, force applied, and tumor volume removed were used to create
Performance Heatmaps for each group. Results: During
complex operative procedures, greater expertise correlated increased time
spent in critical areas (NS = 121.0 s, SR = 103.0 s, JR = 86.1 s, MS = 84.9
s), increased force application (NS = 387 N, SR = 317 N, JR = 340 N, MS =
304 N), and increased tumor removal (NS = .096 cc, SR = .081 cc, JR = .074
cc, MS = .069 cc). Conclusions: Performance Heatmaps
further our understanding of neurosurgical expertise by identifying key
differences between experts (neurosurgeons) and trainees (residents and
medical students). With the adoption of competency-based curricula,
intuitive feedback tools will prove essential for trainees seeking surgical
mastery.