The Quantified Surgeon: A Glimpse Into the Future of Surgical Metrics and Outcomes

Abstract

This paper summarizes key points of the 2023 Southeastern Surgical Congress Laws Lecture. The focus of the presentation was on the use of advanced engineering technology to quantify surgical mastery. New concepts relating to the visual-haptic loop, mastery and perception, and mastery and technical decisions were introduced and shown in an empirical fashion to have relevance in procedural outcomes in a simulated setting. The major takeaway point is that surgical mastery can be quantified using advanced engineering technology, and this process will help to shorten the learning curve.