Background
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) requires mastery of complex skills, for which diverse training methods have been developed. While some methods focus on precise instrument tracking and others on realistic practice scenarios, combining these aspects leads to increased costs and impractical setups.

The Leap Motion Controller (LMC) is a cost-effective device offering precise motion tracking, but previous studies found its utility in surgical training is limited by line-of-sight issues. This study aims to address this challenge.

Methods
A novel interface was developed for use of LMC for tracking MIS instruments during practice. To resolve the line-of-sight problem, the traditional enclosed working area was replaced with a single vertical barrier concealing the task while allowing the LMC to maintain a clear horizontal view of the instrument. Performance metrics included time to task completion and total path length of the instrument. Twenty-eight medical students participated, performing 40 consecutive trials each.

Results
The LMC provided precise tracking, effectively resolving line-of-sight issues. Participants improved significantly, with task completion time decreasing from 61 s (SD = 40) to 19 s (SD = 8) and path length from 2390 mm (SD = 2569) to 574 mm (SD = 348). Performance plateaued after 20 trials, with reduced variance for all outcomes.

Conclusions
The study successfully leveraged the LMC for tracking surgical instruments, overcoming previous limitations. The setup enables real-time monitoring, continuous movement tracking, and tactile interaction with physical objects. Its affordability and simplicity make it a promising tool for traditional and home-based MIS training, especially in resource-limited settings.

Background: The primary aim of this study was to determine and compare the biomechanical properties of a fractured or intact rib after implant fixation on an embalmed thorax. Methods: Five systems were fixated on the bilateral fractured or intact (randomly allocated) 6th to 10th rib of five post-mortem embalmed human specimens. Each rib underwent a four-point bending test to determine the bending structural stiffness (Newton per m²), load to failure (Newton), failure mode, and the relative difference in bending structural stiffness and load to failure as compared to a non-fixated intact rib. Findings: As compared to a non-fixated intact rib, the relative difference in stiffness of a fixated intact rib ranged from −0.14 (standard deviation [SD], 0.10) to 0.53 (SD 0.35) and for a fixated fractured rib from −0.88 (SD 0.08) to 0.17 (SD 0.50). The most common failure mode was a new fracture at the most anterior drill hole for the plate and screw systems and a new fracture within the anterior portion of the implant for the clamping systems. Interpretation: The current fixation systems differ in their design, mode of action, and biomechanical properties. Differences in biomechanical properties such as stiffness and load to failure especially apply to fractured ribs. Insight in the differences between the systems might guide more specific implant selection and increase the surgeon's awareness for localizing hardware complaints or failure.