KNEE ARTHROSCOPY: HOW MUCH TRAINING IS NECESSARY?A CROSSSECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: This study was carried out to record and compare the opinions of junior and senior orthopaedic surgeons with regards to the amount of training necessary to achieve competency in knee arthroscopy.

Methods: At a recent international orthopaedic conference a questionnaire was given to 50 orthopaedic residents and 40 consultants. Consultants were also asked if they performed regular knee arthroscopy (> 50/year). Competency for this study was deWned as the ability to perform the procedure without supervision.

Participants were asked to estimate the number of times a trainee needs to do the following procedures to achieve competency: diagnostic scope, partial medial meniscectomy, partial lateral meniscectomy, and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Results: Participants completed the questionnaire immediately ensuring a 100% response. Of the 40 consultants, 22 performed regular knee arthroscopy. The greatest similarity was between the opinions of the consultants who performed regular knee arthroscopy and the junior surgeons, for both diagnostic and partial medial meniscectomy. There was a substantial diVerence in opinion for partial lateral meniscectomy and ACL reconstruction, with junior surgeons estimating a much greater amount of practice being needed to achieve competency. Consultants who did not perform regular knee arthroscopy consistently estimated approximately half the number of operations when compared to others.

Conclusions: The information presented in this study demonstrates the opinions of both junior and senior surgeons as to how many repetitions of four common arthroscopic procedures are necessary to achieve competency: this information may be useful in designing eVective arthroscopic training programmes.