Resident Physician University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Introduction: Within the available neurosurgical video platforms that exist, there is a disparate under-representation of spine surgery. In general, we have captured very little structured footage of spine surgeries, especially where the operating microscope is not employed.
Methods: Here we highlight successes, challenges, and recommendations for building a spine surgery educational video library to benefit neurosurgical and spine surgery trainees as well as complement practicing spine surgeons’ continuing education.
Results: Exoscopes and traditional surgical microscopes yield exceptional video quality but can be intrusive to the operating field. Loupe and head strap-mounted cameras are less intrusive and allow for improved ergonomics, yet there is a small-drop off in footage clarity. For minimally-invasive procedures, endoscopes capture high-quality surgical detail, but only of a very focused field of view. Similarly, retractor-mounted cameras capture very focused, high-quality detail and are particularly useful for when the surgical field stays strictly within the retractor’s boundaries. Lastly, some operating suites can be equipped with a surgical light camera that can record the field from the view of the overhead lights. These, however, can be expensive to build into the operating room, require audiovisual infrastructure, and need assistance in focus and magnification while the surgeon is scrubbed.
Once captured, video files should be externally stored, condensed, and edited to include clinical history, radiographic imaging, schematics, and audio narration. Videos approximately 30-60 seconds can be integrated into lectures to enhance presentation quality. Surgical videos are additionally a source for academic publications. After experience in fine-tuning this process, we have succeeded in publishing videos of thoracic corpectomies, deformity corrections, robotics workflow, and minimally-invasive techniques, to name a few.
Conclusion : As our surgical techniques and technologies advance, it is essential for spine surgeons and trainees to have access to a variety of educational resources to expand their skills and hone their expertise. Sharing thoughtful videos through peer-reviewed publications or other video platforms will surely benefit the specialty at large.
