Real-time complex cognitive surgical simulator with testing.

One of the greatest challenges facing surgical education is the inability to effectively test a surgeon's cognitive knowledge of a complex open surgery procedure. Cognitive knowledge is tested by paper, and more recently, computer-based and oral exams. Although these tools are used for testing in surgical education, they have been limited by providing a two-dimensional static representation of complex and dynamic, three-dimensional procedures.A three-dimensional interactive surgical simulator that will engage the surgeon, ask questions, test competency and provide feedback has the potential to revolutionize surgical education. Internet connectivity allows for rapid deployment of surgical modules, networked testing formats, data aggregation, comparative analysis and guided tutorials. Combined with the approval of a surgical society, this platform has the potential to set measurable quantitative surgical standards.