Wrist Arthroscopy: Can We Gain Proficiency Through Knee Arthroscopy Simulation?

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Medical Simulation
• Surgical Education

Background:

• Wrist arthroscopy is a complex surgical procedure.
• Limited resident exposure to wrist arthroscopy during training presents a challenge.
• Developing effective training methods is crucial for surgical proficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of virtual knee arthroscopy simulation for enhancing wrist arthroscopy skills.
• To determine if cross-disciplinary simulation training improves surgical proficiency.
• To identify needs for specialized arthroscopic simulation programs.

Main Methods:

• Orthopaedic residents performed baseline and post-intervention wrist arthroscopy simulations.
• Participants underwent virtual reality knee arthroscopy simulation training.
• Proficiency was evaluated using the Arthroscopic Surgery Skill Evaluation Tool (ASSET) and participant surveys.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant improvement in wrist arthroscopy skills was observed after knee simulation training.
• Interns showed a slight improvement, while junior and senior residents demonstrated a decline in scores.
• Participant surveys indicated a perceived, but not objectively measured, benefit.

Conclusions:

• Virtual knee arthroscopy simulation is not an effective method for improving wrist arthroscopy proficiency.
• A specialized virtual reality simulator for wrist arthroscopy is required for measurable skill development.
• Future training programs should focus on discipline-specific simulation tools.