Evaluating the Role of Supervised Early Operative Exposure in Improving Surgical Confidence and Patient Outcomes in...

This prospective multicenter controlled cohort study evaluated whether structured supervised early operative exposure improves educational and clinical outcomes among junior Orthopedic residents. The goal of this protocol is to describe a structured, competency-based approach for implementing supervised early operative exposure in orthopedic residency training and evaluating its educational and clinical impact. Ninety-six first and second-year residents across three tertiary teaching hospitals were allocated to early exposure or traditional training and followed for 12 months. Residents receiving early supervised exposure demonstratedprocedures andincrease in surgical confidence (mean change 2.4 points; 95% CI 1.9-2.9; p < 0.001), reduced operative duration by approximately 20% in common procedures, and maintained low complication rates within accepted clinical benchmarks. Patient satisfaction and functional recovery outcomes remained high and improved in parallel with resident development. Surgical confidence showed a strong positive correlation with supervisor-rated technical skill (r = 0.81). These findings indicate that competency-based supervised early operative participation enhances resident performance and patient outcomes without compromising safety, supporting its integration into Orthopedic residency training.