• Matteo Zoli, Daniele Bongetta, Giovanni Raffa, Teresa Somma, Cesare Zoia, and Giuseppe Maria Della Pepa.
• IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Programma Neurochirurgia Ipofisi-Pituitary Unit, Bologna, Italy; Department of Bio-Medical and Neuro-Motor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: matteo.zoli4@unibo.it.
• World Neurosurg. 2022 Jun 1; 162: e436e456e436-e456.

BackgroundTechnological advancement in neurosurgery is a continuous process aimed at improving existing devices and implementing innovative ones. Recently, artificial intelligence (AI)-derived technologies (i.e., machine learning and virtual or augmented reality) have been entering this field, promising to significantly change its future. The acquisition of technological skills should be a goal of training for young neurosurgeons. The aim of this study is the analysis of competence and attitude toward intraoperative devices of young neurosurgeons.MethodsAn online electronic survey was sent to 256 members of the Young Neurosurgeons Section of the Italian Society of Neurosurgery (Società Italiana di Neurochirurgia, SINch), inquiring about their competences and attitude toward surgical technologies and AI-derived devices.ResultsA total of 152 neurosurgeons participated in the survey. Most participants reported sufficient skills in autonomously setting up and using the optic neuronavigator (93.4% and 92.1%, respectively), advanced microscope (80.3% and 76.3%), magnetic neuronavigator (75% and 72.4%), ultrasonography (63.2% and 60.5%) and high-definition endoscope (55.3% and 46%). Most (92.1%) considered operative devices useful and 89.5% reported a high motivation to acquire technological skills. AI-derived devices have already been used by 56.6% of participants but only 31.6% received proper dedicated training.ConclusionsItalian young neurosurgeons have acquired technical skills sufficient for the autonomous use of the most common operative devices, reporting a positive attitude toward technology with high motivation to learn and awareness of their potential harmfulness. A promising number of participants had already used AI-derived technologies, although only a few had received focused training for these devices.Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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