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Trends in resident operative trauma: How to train future trauma surgeons?
Tashinga Musonza1, S Rob Todd1, Bradford Scott1
1Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, MS: BCM390, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
Background:
Trauma is an essential content area of general surgery residency. The objective of this study was to assess trends in the operative trauma experience by general surgery residents.
Methods:
This was a retrospective review of available ACGME case log reports (the past 29 years) for general surgery residents.
Results:
Over the study period, the total operative trauma cases as surgeon decreased from 79.6 to 29.9, (p < 0.001), gastrointestinal cases decreased from 10.6 to 4.0, (p < 0.001), and vascular cases decreased from 8.6 to 4.5, (p < 0.001). The median number of trauma cases in which residents reported a teaching assistant role fell from 5 to 1 (p < 0.001) and as a first assistant declined from 17 to 1 (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Over the past 29 years, the operative trauma experience of general surgery residents has dramatically decreased. The decline is multifactorial but brings sharp focus on resident education in operative trauma.
