[Effect and importance of experience in determining indications and surgical technique]

Medicine is an empirical science in which there are very heterogeneous view about the importance of experience. Numerical data attempt to quantify the required experience for student education and clinical practice. Support systems, i.e. scores, decision trees, etc., facilitate decision-making for surgical indications and choice of operative techniques. They are aided by clinimetrical systems, i.e. controlled clinical trials and even computer assistance. Beyond all strategies of decision-making lies the accumulated individual experience of making the right decision at the right time. Experience is also at the bottom of the often cited intuition, clinical judgement and common sense.