2009 survey results: surgeon practice patterns regarding arthroscopic surgery

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Surgical Techniques

Background:

• Continuing medical education conferences provide a platform for surveying current surgical practices.
• Understanding surgeon preferences is crucial for advancing orthopedic care and training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather data on the surgical management and practice preferences of orthopedic surgeons.
• To identify trends in arthroscopic repair, rotator cuff repair, knee arthroscopy, and cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to attendees at a continuing medical education conference.
• Responses regarding surgical management and practice preferences were collected using a wireless audience response system.

Main Results:

• Majority favored arthroscopic repair for rotator cuff tears (52%) and shoulder instability (71%).
• For rotator cuff repair, 50% preferred single-row and 33% double-row techniques.
• Knee arthroscopy practices included preoperative antibiotics (85%) and no tourniquet (53%).
• Cruciate ligament reconstruction preferences included preoperative antibiotics (67%), no chemical anticoagulation (56%), single-bundle reconstruction (88%), and transtibial femoral tunnel (78%).
• A significant portion (47%) preferred all-inside suture-based meniscus repair devices.

Conclusions:

• Arthroscopic techniques are the preferred approach for rotator cuff tears and shoulder instability.
• Surgeons exhibit varied preferences in rotator cuff repair methods and knee arthroscopy protocols.
• Current practices in cruciate ligament reconstruction lean towards specific techniques and perioperative management.