The presence of residents during orthopedic operation exerts no negative influence on outcome

Operative procedural training is a key component of orthopedic surgery residency. It is unclear how and whether residents participation in orthopedic surgical procedures impacts on post-operative outcomes.

A systematic search was performed to identify articles in which the presence of a resident in the operating room was certified, and was compared with interventions without the presence of residents.

There is a likely beneficial role of residents in the operating room, and there is only a weak association between the presence of a resident and a worse outcome for orthopedic surgical patients.

Most of the studies were undertaken in USA, and this represents a limit from the point of view of comparison with other academic and clinical realities.

The data provide support for continued and perhaps increased involvement of resident in orthopedic surgery.

To clarify the role of residents on clinically relevant outcomes in orthopedic patients, appropriately powered randomized control trials should be planned.