An analysis of the hip and knee reconstruction section of the orthopaedic in-training examination

This article analyzes the hip and knee reconstruction section of the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination (OITE). All of the hip and knee reconstruction questions from 2005 to 2009 were analyzed, and the following data were recorded: number of questions per year in the hip and knee section, total number of questions on the OITE per year, national average score by year in training, references cited, taxonomy classification of each question, topics that were tested, imaging modalities used for a given question, and treatment modalities tested. Eight percent to 9% of the questions on the OITE each year were hip and knee reconstruction-related questions. Performance improved with each year in training, but not by a statistically significant amount. The most commonly tested topics over the past 5 years were anatomy and physiology, ligament and/or gap balancing during total knee arthroplasty (TKA), surgical approaches, properties of polyethylene, periprosthetic fractures about an arthroplasty, and questions dealing with the mechanical properties of implants. In 4 out of 5 years, the majority of questions were classified as Taxonomy 1 (knowledge and recall). The bulk of the questions each year did not require the examinee to interpret a radiograph or make a treatment decision. The most common references cited were from Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American), followed by the Journal of Arthroplasty. This detailed analysis of the hip and knee reconstruction section of the OITE should improve resident performance, and may serve as a study tool for the OITE.