The researchers examined orthopedic surgery residents in a control group, cadaver group and simulator group. The residents completed a pre- and posttest for diagnostic knee arthroscopies on cadavera. The test was timed and video-recorded.
There were 45 residents who completed the study — 15 per group. The researchers found:
1. There was an average difference between the pretest and posttest scores of -0.4 in the control group, +4.27 in the cadaver group and +1.92 in the simulator group.
2. The average difference in the test-completion time from the pretest to the posttest was 0:07 in the control group, 3:01 in the cadaver group and 0:28 in the simulator group.
3. The residents in the cadaver group improved performance at a 1.1 Arthroscopy Surgical Skill Evaluation Tool points per hours pent training. Residents in the simulator group improved 0.5 ASSET point per hour training.
4. While the residents practicing on cadaveric specimens improved twice as fast as the simulator, the simulator may be the more cost-effective option. The cost estimation for the institution where the study was conducted showed simulators as more cost effective if it was used at least 300 hours per year.
5. Around 25 percent of residency programs don’t have a dedicated surgical skills training area at their institution and 87 percent of program directors cite lack of funding as the largest barrier.
More articles on orthopedic surgery:
5 notes on orthopedic registries and their impact on joint replacement
St. Thomas More Hospital’s orthopedics department expands—6 takeaways
Lower in-hospital costs associated with anterior total hip arthroplasty
