Aims. Global literature suggests that female surgical trainees have lower rates of independent operating (operative autonomy) than their male counterparts. The objective of this study was to identify any association between gender and lead/independent operating in speciality orthopaedic trainees within the UK national training programme. Methods. This was a retrospective case-control study using electronic surgical logbook data from 2009 to 2021 for 274 UK orthopaedic trainees. Total operative numbers and level of supervision were compared between male and female trainees, with correction for less than full-time training (LTFT), prior experience, and time out during training (OOP). The primary outcome was the percentage of cases undertaken as lead surgeon (supervised and unsupervised) by UK orthopaedic trainees by gender. Results. All participants gave permission for their data to be used. In total, 274 UK orthopaedic trainees submitted data (65% men (n = 177) and 33% women (n = 91)), with a total of 285,915 surgical procedures logged over 1,364 trainee-years. Males were lead surgeon (under supervision) on 3% more cases than females (61% (115,948/189,378) to 58% (50,285/86,375), respectively; p < 0.001), and independent operator (unsupervised) on 1% more cases. A similar trend of higher operative numbers in male trainees was seen for senior (ST6 to 8) trainees (+5% and +1%; p < 0.001), those with no time OOP (+6% and +8%; p < 0.001), and those with orthopaedic experience prior to orthopaedic specialty training (+7% and +3% for lead surgeon and independent operator, respectively; p < 0.001). The gender difference was less marked for those on LTFT training, those who took time OOP, and those with no prior orthopaedic experience. Conclusion. This study showed that males perform 3% more cases as the lead surgeon than females during UK orthopaedic training (p < 0.001). This may be due to differences in how cases are recorded, but must engender further research to ensure that all surgeons are treated equitably during their training. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(7):821–832

Mortality following hip arthroplasty is affected by a large number of confounding variables each of which must be considered to enable valid interpretation. The aim of this study was to establish whether it is possible to determine a true cause-and-effect relationship between the risk of mortality and data that are routinely collected by the NJR and to establish the degree to which variation in the mortality rate could be explained by each variable. Relevant variables available from the 2011 NJR data setwere included in a Cox model. We carried out two analyses:. Firstly, we conducted an analysis of data collected from the NJR data set used in preparation of the NJR's 8th Annual Report (2011) looking for an association between the variables collected and the risk of mortality. Secondly, as social deprivation is also known to influence mortalityrates but is not routinely collected as part of the NJR data set, a further analysis was performed which included social deprivation data derived from partial postcodes. Mortality rates in hip arthroplasty patients were lower than in the age matched population across all hip types. Age at surgery, ASA grade, diagnosis, gender, provider type, hip type and lead surgeon grade all had a significant effect on mortality. Schemper's statistic showed that only 18.98% of the variation in mortality was explained by the variables available in the NJR data set. It is inappropriate to use Registry data to study an outcome affected by a multitude of confounding variables when these cannot be adequately accounted for in the available data set

The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of the acetabular component introducer as a tool to intra-operatively predict implant inclination in total hip arthroplasty. This study investigated (1) the correlation between intra-operative photographic assessment of cup inclination using the acetabular introducer and that measured on post-operative radiograph; and (2) the accuracy of intra-operative prediction of abduction angle. For this study, we prospectively recruited 56 patients scheduled to receive primary hip arthroplasty from one of two senior surgeons. During the procedure, the lead surgeon provided a prediction of the abduction angle based on the alignment of the impactor attached to the cup in its final seated position. A standardized anteroposterior (AP) photograph was then taken of the acetabular impactor in situ. Abduction angles were measured by two observers on the photographs and post-operative AP pelvis radiographs. Linear regression was used to determine the correlation between the angle of the guide measured on the photographs and the actual position of the implant measured on the radiograph. Descriptive statistics were further used to analyze the accuracy of the intra-operative prediction as compared with the abduction angle measured on the photographs. Measurements of cup position made from post-operative radiographs were significantly correlated with the measurements as assessed by intra-operative photographs (r = 0.34, p = 0.00). Our findings demonstrate that radiological abduction angles tend to be greater than that assessed by intra-operative photographs by a mean of 5.6 degrees (SD = 6.6 degrees; 95% CI = 7.3 to 3.9 degrees). Conversely, surgeon prediction of cup inclination based on the acetabular introducer differed from the radiographic measurements by a mean of 6.8 degrees (SD = 8.7 degrees). There was good agreement between the two observers in both photographic and radiographic measurement (k = 0.95, k = 0.96, respectively). In conclusion, we found that the intra-operative photographic assessment of acetabular cup inclination by acetabular impactor alignment tends to underestimate the abduction angle by a mean of approximately 5 degrees. In addition, intra-operative surgeon estimation of acetabular inclination did not appear accurate in this study demonstrating that cup position should rely on additional visual cues beyond that captured in the anteroposterior view of the cup introducer

Introduction. Accurate prosthetic cup placement is very important in total hip arthroplasty (THA). When the surgeon is impacting the acetabular cup, it is assumed that the patient's pelvis is perpendicular to the operating table. In reality the pelvis may not be truly lateral, and error in patient positioning may influence the resultant cup orientation. Objectives. The primary aim of this study was to examine the accuracy of patient positioning prior to THA. A secondary aim was to see if patient BMI influenced the accuracy of positioning. Method. A consecutive series of 36 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty were investigated. Once the lead surgeon believed that the patient had been correctly positioned in lateral decubitus, a lateral fluoroscopic image of the pelvis was taken. The C-arm of the image intensifier was manipulated in two planes until a proper lateral view of the hip was obtained, defined as when the native acetabulae overlapped. The number of degrees of positioning error in two planes (coronal, axial) was recorded, along with the patient's BMI. Results. Only 6 patients (17%) were positioned within 2° of true lateral in both planes. A further 20 patients (56%) had an error of 5° or more in at least one plane. In the axial plane the mean error was 2.9° and 7 patients (19%) were tilted by 5 degrees or more. In the coronal plane the mean error was 3.1° and 14 patients (39%) were tilted by 5 degrees or more. A statistically significant correlation was shown between patient BMI and combined error in the two planes (R=0.47, P < 0.01). Conclusion. Large errors can occur frequently and these may pass by unnoticed without the use of an image intensifier. Further research into the clinical significance of this finding would help decide if the use of fluoroscopy to aid patient positioning should be routine