A Call to Evaluate Manual Dexterity of Prospective Surgical Trainees.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This study assesses the correlation between academic grades and gross and fine motor skills in prospective surgical trainees. METHODS: Forty-seven General Surgery Residency applicants and 32 medical students with prospective surgical interests were recruited. Manual dexterity (MD) was assessed through six tasks O'Connor Tweezer Dexterity Test and Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test; Peg Transfer Test Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (box); Ring and Rail, Thread the Ring and Suture Sponge (da Vinci Surgical Simulator). RESULTS: Medical students with higher academic scores had longer completion times for the peg transfer test (P = 0.013). Individuals who played musical instruments and perceived themselves to have "Excellent" MD and motor coordination (MC) were more likely to score higher on the Thread the Ring test (P = 0.007; P = 0.009 ,respectively). Those who perceived themselves to have "Mediocre" MD and MC performed the worst on the O'Connor Tweezer Dexterity Test (P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary data suggest that MD ability correlates with neither high United States Medical Licensing Examination scores nor high academic grades; however, previous experience playing a musical instrument and high self-ratings of MD/MC may be associated with better test performance.