Face and content validity of analog surgical instruments on a novel physics-driven minimally invasive spinal fusion surgical simulator.

Medical simulators are a modern-day technology that allow clinicians to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to perform complex surgical procedures. Validating these simulators is crucial prior to their integration in surgical training programs. However, surgical simulators are typically validated as a whole, without emphasizing validation of the instruments themselves. The purpose of this study was to design and validate analog surgical instruments for a novel, minimally invasive spinal fusion simulator. The surgical procedure was performed on cadavers and on a surgical simulator by experienced spine surgeons to compare and validate the analog instruments. Observations were made to assess the duration of each task and the participants' interaction with each instrument, judged by finger position and location. Immediately after the completion of the simulator trial, participants completed a questionnaire on a 5-point Likert scale. The duration of each task in the surgical procedure varied between participants and training platforms (cadaver versus simulator), while participants' interaction with the instruments was similar, regardless of the training platform. Questionnaire results yielded an average score of 3.7/5 for the instrument-related questions. Subsequently, face and content validity were established. The results suggest feasibility and value in independently validating the analog instruments used in simulator training.