Evaluation of neurosurgical training of French military surgeons prior to their deployment.

BACKGROUND

A specific training course was formalized in 2007 in order to facilitate the management of cranio-encephalic injuries by French military general surgeons during deployment, within the Advanced Course for Deployment Surgery (ACDS). The objective is to evaluate the neurosurgical pre-deployment training course attended by the military surgeons.

METHODS

From June 2019 to September 2019, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in the form of a digital self-completed questionnaire, addressed to all graduated military surgeons working in the French Military Training Hospitals. The survey included: (1) a knowledge assessment; and (2) a self-assessment of the training course. The participating surgeons were classified into two groups according to their participation (group 1) or not (group 2) in the neurosurgical module. The main outcome was the score received on the knowledge assessment.

RESULTS

Among the 145 military surgeons currently in service, 76 participated in our study (53%), of which 49 were classified in group 1 (64%) and 27 in group 2 (36%). Group 1 surgeons had a significantly higher score than Group 2 at the knowledge assessment (mean 21.0±7.1 vs. 17.8±6.0, P=0.041). The most successful questions were related to TBI diagnosis and surgical technique, while the least successful questions dealt with "beyond emergency care" and surgical indications.

CONCLUSION

The French pre-deployment neurosurgical training course provides a strong neurosurgical background, sufficient to perform life-saving procedures in a modern conflict situation. However, neurosurgical specialized advice should be solicited whenever possible to assist the in-theatre surgeon in surgical decisions.