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Published on: September 7, 2022
Mentoring in complex surgery: minimising the learning curve complications from peri-acetabular osteotomy
Donald W Howie1, Martin Beck, Kerry Costi
1Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, Royal Adelaide Hospital and the Discipline of Orthopaedics and Trauma, University of Adelaide, Level 4 Bice Building, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia. donald.howie@adelaide.edu.au
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to determine whether a complex surgical procedure such as peri-acetabular osteotomy could be safely learnt by using a programme involving mentoring by a distant expert. To determine this, we examined the incidence of intra-operative complications, the acetabulum correction achieved, the late incidence of re-operation and progressive degenerative arthritis.
Methods:
Between 1992 and 2004, peri-acetabular osteotomy was performed in 26 hips in 23 patients. The median follow-up was ten (5-17) years. The median age of the patients at operation was 28 (14-41) years. Clinical outcomes were reported and radiographic results were determined by an independent expert.
Results:
There were no intra-articular osteotomies, sciatic nerve injuries, hingeing deformities or vascular injuries. There was one ischial nonunion. The lateral centre-edge angle improved from a median 4° pre-operatively to 25°. One revision osteotomy, one osteectomy and three total hip replacements were required, two for progression of osteoarthritis.
Conclusions:
The programme of mentoring was successful in that there was a low incidence of the major intra-operative complications that are often reported during the learning curve period and the acetabular corrections achieved were similar to the originators.