Purpose
The purpose of this study was to quantify the benefits of shoulder arthroscopy simulator
training with a cadaveric model of shoulder arthroscopy.
Methods
Seventeen first-year medical students with no prior experience in shoulder arthroscopy
were enrolled and completed this study. Each subject completed a baseline proctored
arthroscopy on a cadaveric shoulder, which included controlling the camera and completing
a standard series of tasks using the probe. The subjects were randomized, and 9 of
the subjects received training on a virtual reality simulator for shoulder arthroscopy.
All subjects then repeated the same cadaveric arthroscopy. The arthroscopic videos
were analyzed in a blinded fashion for time to task completion and subjective assessment
of technical performance. The 2 groups were compared by use of Student t tests, and change over time within groups was analyzed with paired t tests.
Results
There were no observed differences between the 2 groups on the baseline evaluation.
The simulator group improved significantly from baseline with respect to time to completion
and subjective performance (P < .05). Time to completion was significantly faster in the simulator group compared
with controls at the final evaluation (P < .05). No difference was observed between the groups on the subjective scores at
the final evaluation (P = .98).
Conclusions
Shoulder arthroscopy simulator training resulted in significant benefits in clinical
shoulder arthroscopy time to task completion in this cadaveric model. This study provides
important additional evidence of the benefit of simulators in orthopaedic surgical
training.
Clinical Relevance
There may be a role for simulator training in shoulder arthroscopy education.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 15, 2013
Accepted:
February 12,
2013
Received:
August 14,
2012
Footnotes
The authors report the following sources of funding in relation to this article: Directed Educational Efficacy Research Grant from the Arthroscopy Association of North America, and RO3 grant from the National Institutes of Health (1R033AR057199).
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
