Gamers can be better laproscopic surgeons

This has been bouncing around the gaming sphere for a while, but here is another study:

The Impact of Video Games on Training Surgeons in the 21st Century

James C. Rosser, Jr, MD; Paul J. Lynch, MD; Laurie Cuddihy, MD; Douglas A. Gentile, PhD; Jonathan Klonsky, MD; Ronald Merrell, MD

Arch Surg. 2007;142:181-186.

If you can’t get to this, let me know, I’ll have a copy floating around.

Basically, processes that are screen based are likely to be better done by those who have been gaming and a curriculum that includes gaming may help improve the abilities of individuals planning to go into that form of surgery. But as another collegue who is a respected surgeon notes – it doesn’t, can’t and won’t simulate “when and why” to cut – it can only cover how.