{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T09:50:19Z","timestamp":1791366619547,"version":"4.3.1"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Georg Thieme Verlag KG","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J Reconstr Microsurg"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\nMicrosurgery is a critical component of plastic and reconstructive surgery. However, the high cost of training and equipment pose significant barriers, particularly in resource-limited settings. To address this challenge, the Microsurgery and Regenerative Medicine Lab within the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Wisconsin developed a low-cost, 3D-printed surgical microscope. This study qualitatively appraised the use of this novel microscope for microsurgery training by surveying surgeons about their experiences using this tool relative to traditional magnification methods.\n\nMethods\nIn this prospective, multi-institutional appraisal study, surgical residents, fellows, and attending surgeons with varying microsurgical experience performed a single end-to-end microsurgical anastomosis on chicken thigh femoral arteries using the 3D-printed microscope. Participants then completed a survey assessing ease of use, adequacy for microsurgical training, educational value, and perceived impact on teaching capacity in local and global settings.\n\nResults\nOver 80% of participants reported that performing an end-to-end anastomosis was easier or equivalent using the 3D-printed microscope compared to surgical loupes. All respondents expressed willingness to use the device for microsurgery teaching and practice. Additionally, 91.7% (33\/36) believed access to the microscope would enhance microsurgical teaching at their home institutions, and 97.1% (34\/35) felt it would improve teaching capacity in globally. Qualitative feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with suggestions primarily related to ergonomics and lighting.\n\nConclusion\nThis study supports that this low-cost, 3D-printed microscope is an effective microsurgical training tool. Ongoing design refinements informed by user feedback may further optimize its role in expanding access to microsurgery education worldwide.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1055\/a-2972-6217","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T08:39:33Z","timestamp":1791362373000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Innovations in Microsurgery: A Qualitative Appraisal of a Novel 3D-Printed Microscope"],"prefix":"10.1055","author":[{"given":"Emily E","family":"Zona","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Wisconsin Hospitals & Clinics, Wisconsin, United States","place":["Madison"],"department":["Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sahand","family":"Eftekari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mayo Clinic Minnesota Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Minnesota, United States","place":["Rochester"],"department":["Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elizabeth P","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Wisconsin Hospitals & Clinics, Wisconsin, United States","place":["Madison"],"department":["Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Myiah Phuong Kim","family":"Quach","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, United States","place":["Madison"],"department":["Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ellen C","family":"Shaffrey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Wisconsin, United States","place":["Madison"],"department":["Division of Plastic Surgery"]},{"name":"University of Wisconsin Hospitals & Clinics, United States","place":["Madison"],"department":["Plastic Surgery"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M Kristine","family":"Carbullido","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Wisconsin Hospitals & Clinics, Wisconsin, United States","place":["Madison"],"department":["Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7161-7145","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Weifeng","family":"Zeng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Wisconsin Hospitals & Clinics, Wisconsin, United States","place":["Madison"],"department":["Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aaron M","family":"Dingle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Wisconsin Hospitals & Clinics, Wisconsin, United States","place":["Madison"],"department":["Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8751-7309","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Samuel O","family":"Poore","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Wisconsin Hospitals & Clinics, Wisconsin, United States","place":["Madison"],"department":["Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"194","container-title":["Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/www.thieme-connect.de\/products\/ejournals\/pdf\/10.1055\/a-2972-6217.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T08:58:02Z","timestamp":1791363482000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.thieme-connect.de\/DOI\/DOI?10.1055\/a-2972-6217"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,6]]},"references-count":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1055\/a-2972-6217","archive":["Portico","CLOCKSS"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["0743-684X","1098-8947"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0743-684X","type":"print"},{"value":"1098-8947","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published-other":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,6]]},"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,6]]}}}