Does resident involvement impact postoperative outcomes after proximal humerus fractures?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Surgical Training
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) are common orthopedic injuries requiring surgical intervention.
• Resident participation in PHF surgeries is standard for training but its impact on outcomes is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of resident involvement on perioperative complications and mortality in proximal humerus fracture surgeries.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2006-2012).
• Inclusion of patients undergoing open reduction internal fixation, hemiarthroplasty, or total shoulder arthroplasty for PHF.
• Multivariate logistic and linear regression models were used to assess resident impact, controlling for confounders.

Main Results:

• Resident involvement was associated with increased postoperative complications, including minor ones.
• Cases involving senior residents or fellows showed significantly more minor complications compared to attending-only cases.

Conclusions:

• Resident participation in proximal humerus fracture surgeries is associated with a higher incidence of postoperative complications.
• Findings underscore the need for further investigation into factors influencing these outcomes in surgical education.