Prior Generic Arthroscopic Volume Correlates with Hip Arthroscopic Proficiency: A Simulator Study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Surgical Simulation
• Medical Education

Background:

• Evolving surgical education and patient expectations necessitate proficiency-based progression and simulator use.
• Hip arthroscopy, a procedure with a steep learning curve, is increasingly common.
• Fellowship training is key for developing hip arthroscopy skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of prior general arthroscopic experience on simulated hip arthroscopy performance.
• To determine minimum procedure numbers for expert proficiency in hip arthroscopy.
• To inform selection criteria for hip arthroscopy fellowship programs.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 52 participants across consultant, trainee, and novice groups.
• Performance assessment using a validated Global Rating Scale (GRS) and motion analysis on a simulated hip arthroscopy task.
• Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to identify proficiency cut-points.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in performance (GRS and motion analysis) were observed across experience groups (p < 0.05).
• A strong positive correlation (p < 0.0001) exists between procedure logbook numbers and GRS scores.
• ROC analysis indicated 610 procedures for expert GRS scores and 78 for competent scores.

Conclusions:

• Substantial prior general arthroscopic experience is essential for competent hip arthroscopy.
• The identified procedure numbers serve as benchmarks for residents and fellowship program directors.
• These findings aid in the selection process for hip arthroscopy fellowship training.