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Diagnostic knee arthroscopy: a pilot study to evaluate surgical skills
Michael J Elliott1, Peter A Caprise, Amy E Henning
1Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA. melliott@childrenscentralcal.org
Summary
A new scoring system effectively assesses diagnostic knee arthroscopy skills. The tool differentiates between novice, experienced, and expert surgeons based on performance and time.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Medical Education
- Surgical Skills Assessment
Background:
- Diagnostic knee arthroscopy is a common procedure.
- Evaluating surgical proficiency is crucial for patient safety and effective training.
- Standardized methods for assessing arthroscopic skills are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a scoring system for evaluating proficiency in diagnostic knee arthroscopy.
- To objectively measure technical skill and time efficiency in arthroscopic knee procedures.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, blinded study involving 30 subjects (residents and staff surgeons).
- Participants performed a diagnostic arthroscopy on a cadaveric knee.
- A scoring system was developed, assessing 15 key areas and time to completion, totaling 100 points.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in total scores, time, and missed structures were found across novice (PGY 1-2), experienced (PGY 3-5), and expert (staff) groups (P < .001).
- Staff surgeons achieved perfect scores (100 points) with the shortest completion time (4.6 minutes).
- Novice residents scored an average of 28.25 points, missing 8.67 structures, while experienced residents scored 76 points, missing 1.75 structures.
Conclusions:
- The developed scoring system reliably differentiates technical skill levels in diagnostic knee arthroscopy.
- This tool can effectively assess and categorize surgeons from novice to expert levels.
- The system provides objective metrics for surgical training and competency evaluation.
