Identifying orthopaedic surgeons of the future

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of training on the arthroscopic performance of a group of medical students and to determine whether all students could be trained to competence. Thirty-three medical students with no previous experience of arthroscopy were randomised to a 'Trained' or an 'Untrained' cohort. They were required to carry out 30 episodes of two simulated arthroscopic tasks (one shoulder and one knee). The primary outcome variable was task success at each episode. Individuals achieved competence when their learning curve stabilised. The secondary outcome was technical dexterity, assessed objectively using a validated motion analysis system. Six subjects in the 'Untrained' cohort failed to achieve competence in the shoulder task, compared with one in the 'Trained' cohort. During the knee task, two subjects in each cohort failed to achieve competence. Based on the objective motion analysis parameters, the 'Trained' cohort performed better on the shoulder task (p < 0.05) but there was no significant difference for the knee task (p > 0.05). Although specific training improved the arthroscopic performance of novices, there were individuals who could not achieve competence despite focused training.These findings may have an impact on the selection process for trainees and influence individual career choices.

Arthroscopic proficiency: methods in evaluating competency

“…However, these parameters may serve as potential adjuncts to traditional means of evaluation and have a role in selecting individuals for surgical disciplines based on innate arthroscopic ability. Significant differences in multiple motion analysis parameters was shown in medical students who failed to achieve competence despite sustained practice when completing an arthroscopic task in knee and shoulder models compared to those who achieved competence [69,70]. …”

Effect of Mirrored Views on Endoscopic and Arthroscopic Skill Performance

“…Other features and individual skills that may influence the subjects’ performance such as laterality, eye-hand coordination, or spatial sense were not evaluated. 2 Thus, the results from the subgroup analyses should be treated with caution.…”

Aktueller Stand virtueller Simulatoren für die chirurgische Ausbildung in Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie

“…Aufgrund dieser komplexen Anforderungen ist die Lernkurve bei arthroskopischen Operationen flach [3,4,11,16,17,27]. Daher ist das Erlernen arthroskopischer Operationen mit vergleichsweise längeren Operationszeiten [15] und höheren Komplikationsraten verbunden [12] als das Erlernen offener Operationen.…”