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Advancing spinal fellowship training: an international multi-centre educational perspective

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to review the importance of contemporary spine surgery fellowships and educational strategies to assist with fellowship design and delivery.

Methods

Spine surgery fellowship includes trainees from orthopaedic and neurosurgical backgrounds and is increasingly indicated for individuals wishing to pursue spine surgery as a career, recognizing how spinal surgery evolved significantly in scope and complexity. We combine expert opinion with a review of the literature and international experience to expound spine fellowship training.

Results

Contemporary learning techniques include boot camps at the start of fellowship which may reinforce previous clinical learning and help prepare fellows for their new clinical roles. There is good evidence that surgical specialty training boot camps improve clinical skills, knowledge and trainee confidence prior to embarking upon new clinical roles with increasing levels of responsibility. Furthermore, as simulation techniques and technologies take on an increasing role in medical and surgical training, we found evidence that trainees’ operative skills and knowledge can improve with simulated operations, even if just carried out briefly. Finally, we found evidence to suggest a role for establishing competence-based objectives for training in specific operative and technical procedures. Competence-based objectives are helpful for trainees and trainers to highlight gaps in a trainee’s skill set that may then be addressed during training.

Conclusions

Spinal fellowships may benefit from certain contemporary strategies that assist design and delivery of training in a safe environment. Interpersonal factors that promote healthy teamwork may contribute to an environment conducive to learning.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Derby Spinal Centre, Royal Derby Hospital, Uttoxeter Road, Derby, DE22 3NE, UK

    Ashwin Kumaria & Antony H. Bateman

  2. Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Royal Victoria Hospital, 274 Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA, Northern Ireland, UK

    Niall Eames

  3. Division of Neurosurgery and Spine Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Michael G. Fehlings

  4. Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, University of Missouri, 1100 Virginia Ave, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA

    Christina Goldstein

  5. Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany

    Bernhard Meyer

  6. The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Scott J. Paquette

  7. Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Albert J. M. Yee

  8. University of Toronto Spine Program, Toronto, Canada

    Albert J. M. Yee

  9. Marvin Tile Chair, Division Head of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Rm MG 371-B, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada

    Albert J. M. Yee

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  1. Ashwin Kumaria
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Kumaria, A., Bateman, A.H., Eames, N. et al. Advancing spinal fellowship training: an international multi-centre educational perspective. Eur Spine J 28, 2437–2443 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-019-06098-8

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