Current Total Hip Arthroplasty Resident Experience During Orthopaedic Surgery Training: A Self-Reported Survey
John Mazzocco1, Alexis Driscoll1, Kathleen He2
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
The Journal of Arthroplasty
|December 20, 2025
Summary
Orthopaedic surgery residents are increasingly exposed to the direct anterior approach (DAA) in total hip arthroplasty (THA) training. Most residents report satisfaction with their training and exposure to multiple surgical techniques.
Area of Science:
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Surgical Techniques
- Medical Education
Background:
- Total hip arthroplasty (THA) utilization is shifting towards the direct anterior approach (DAA) and robotic assistance.
- Understanding resident exposure to evolving THA techniques is crucial for surgical training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize orthopaedic surgery residents' self-reported exposure to various total hip arthroplasty (THA) techniques.
- To assess resident confidence levels with different THA approaches.
Main Methods:
- An anonymous survey of 94 orthopaedic surgery residents was conducted.
- The survey collected data on demographic information, THA technique exposure, and procedural confidence.
- Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and ordinal logistic regression.
Main Results:
- A majority of residents reported significant exposure to the DAA, with program region influencing approach exposure.
- Over half of residents had no exposure to robotic-assisted THA.
- Residents exposed to DAA reported higher comfort levels compared to the posterior approach, with comfort increasing with postgraduate year.
Conclusions:
- The increasing popularity of the DAA in THA is reflected in orthopaedic resident training programs.
- Most residents reported satisfaction with their training and exposure to multiple THA techniques.
- Future training should address exposure to newer techniques like robotic assistance.
