A new wide-angle arthroscopic system: a comparative study with a conventional 30° arthroscopic system

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Surgical Technology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Shoulder arthroscopy requires precise hand movements.
• Evaluating new arthroscopic systems is crucial for improving surgical outcomes.
• Standard 30° arthroscopes offer a limited field of view, potentially impacting maneuverability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare hand movements during shoulder arthroscopic tasks using 30° and wide-angle arthroscopic systems.
• To quantify differences in task performance metrics between the two systems.
• To assess the impact of arthroscope angle on surgical efficiency and precision.

Main Methods:

• Twelve orthopaedic residents performed four validated shoulder arthroscopic tasks.
• An optical motion analysis system tracked hand movements.
• A Latin square design balanced learning effects, with participants using both 30° and wide-angle arthroscopes.
• Key metrics analyzed included time, path length, movement count, and acceleration.

Main Results:

• Wide-angle arthroscopy significantly reduced total path length (53±38 cm vs 36±22 cm), number of movements (1974±1305 vs 1233±990), and average acceleration (2.6±1.3 vs 1.2±0.6 cm/s²).
• While 13% faster, the time taken was not statistically significant between systems.
• Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed for path length, movement count, and acceleration.

Conclusions:

• Wide-angle arthroscopic systems enhance arthroscope maneuverability in simulated shoulder surgery.
• Reduced path length, movements, and acceleration suggest improved efficiency and control.
• The expanded field of view may assist surgeons in triangulating instruments during procedures.