Introduction: The goal of the CNS NEXUS project is to develop a comprehensive online library of neurosurgical cases to better prepare trainees for the operating room. As Nexus is currently accessible for free, NEXUS has the potential to significantly improve trainee preparation, knowledge, and surgical skills not only in the USA, but also in socioeconomically disadvantaged countries.
Methods: We submitted a call for curated neurosurgical case modules in February 2017. Authors submit cases to NEXUS using a standardized template. Cases undergo peer-review and revisions prior to being accepted for online publication. All cases are in the English language, and are formatted to be viewed on computer, tablet, and smartphone.
Results: NEXUS has received 195 surgical case submissions and 10 cranial approaches for online publication as of March 2018. Submissions are from 55 unique institutions in the United States, Canada, and Brazil. Cases have been submitted for each neurosurgical subdiscipline, with vascular (76 cases), and spine (72 cases) receiving the most submissions. The number of cases in the other categories are: tumor (19), functional/epilepsy (12), pediatrics (7), trauma (6), pain (2), and peripheral nerve (1). 56% of cases include intraoperative video, 29% have intraoperative photos, and 74% of cases contain either intra-operative photos, video, or both. The countries with the highest number of visitors to the website are: USA, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia.
Conclusions: Since its inception, NEXUS has successfully received cases spanning all neurosurgical subdisciplines and from a variety of institutions. Yet, there is still a need for additional pain and peripheral nerve cases. Furthermore, as not all cases include intraoperative videos or photos, new cases that include such valuable multimedia content would strengthen the repository. Due to its free online availability, NEXUS may serve as an important resource for neurosurgeons and trainees around the world, specifically in countries with limited resources.
Patient Care: The adoption of electronic learning, such as surgical case modules, has shown to be an effective method of improving knowledge and skills for surgical trainees around the world.
As Nexus is currently accessible for free, NEXUS has the potential to significantly improve trainee preparation, knowledge, and surgical skills throughout the world
Learning Objectives: (1) Understand the role of e-learning in neurosurgical education. (2) Learn about Nexus’ first year experience and progress. (3) Describe how Nexus can potentially improve resident education worldwide.