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Surgical skills training for primary total hip arthroplasty
Yukiharu Hasegawa1, Takafumi Amano2
1Department of Hip and Knee Reconstructive Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
Nagoya Journal of Medical Science
|March 24, 2015
Summary
Surgical trainees performing total hip arthroplasty (THA) had a higher complication rate than experienced surgeons. However, both groups achieved similar patient outcomes and long-term implant survival, indicating trainee safety.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Surgical Education
Background:
- Evaluating surgeon skill is crucial for patient safety in total hip arthroplasty (THA).
- Differentiating outcomes between surgical trainees and experienced instructors is essential for understanding surgical training effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the surgical skill and patient outcomes of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) performed by surgical trainees versus experienced instructors.
- To assess complication rates, operative times, and long-term survivorship between the two groups.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 483 primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) cases.
- Comparison of operative time, complication rates, hip scores, and Kaplan-Meier survivorship between hips operated on by trainees (n=259) and instructors (n=224).
Main Results:
- Trainees had a significantly longer operative time (87.0 min vs. 73.1 min) and a higher complication rate (3.5% vs. 1.3%) compared to instructors.
- Despite higher complication rates, no significant difference was found in monitored surgical quality, pre- and post-operative hip scores, or 5-year Kaplan-Meier survivorship (97.2% trainee vs. 97.3% instructor).
Conclusions:
- Primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) performed by surgical trainees is safe and yields satisfactory short-term clinical and radiographic results.
- While trainees exhibit a higher complication rate, the overall quality of care and long-term implant survival are comparable to experienced surgeons, supporting current training models.
