Evaluating Laparoscopic Skills: Report on the Origami Crane Folding Competition Using Laparoscopic Instruments With Objective Criteria.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the importance of daily laparoscopic training using laparoscopic forceps to fold origami paper cranes (a traditional Japanese paper craft) and assess the performance of laparoscopic origami crane folding in an actual competition.

METHOD

A competition, named the "Kaminote Challenge World Championship," was used to evaluate the effectiveness of training. The participants folded the paper cranes using laparoscopic forceps. The judges evaluated the speed at which the paper cranes were folded and the quality of the completed cranes, using objective criteria.

RESULTS

The competition was held twice, in 2022 and 2023, with 27 and 36 participants, respectively. The participants were surgeons, veterinarians, and students from Japan, Mexico, and Vietnam. The completion rate for folding a paper crane within seven minutes was 70.4% in 2022 (19/27) and 44.4% in 2023 (16/36). In the second competition, 75.0% (12/16) of the participants who completed the origami crane within seven minutes had practiced folding more than 1,000 cranes. Despite the competitive pressure, the top performers folded paper cranes with minimal deductions for quality and used the laparoscopic forceps precisely. The winners of the 1st prize in 2022 and 2023 completed the task in 2 min 46 s and 2 min 45 s, respectively, without any penalty.

CONCLUSIONS

Training by folding paper cranes using laparoscopic forceps is highly likely to lead to improved laparoscopic surgery skills. Such competitions may also be useful as an opportunity for individuals to demonstrate their forceps manipulation ability and maintain motivation.