Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2021 Oct 12;5(10).
doi: 10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-21-00193.

Mitigating Surgical Skill Decay in Orthopaedics Using Virtual Simulation Learning

Ryan Lohre  1 , Jon J P Warner, Bernard R Morrey, George S Athwal, Mark E Morrey, Augustus D Mazzocca, Danny P Goel
Affiliations
Review

Mitigating Surgical Skill Decay in Orthopaedics Using Virtual Simulation Learning

Ryan Lohre et al. J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev. .

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted orthopaedic training structures for both surgeons and trainees. The concept of skill decay must be considered during inactivity of elective practice. The purpose of this study was to provide an evidence-based curriculum in association with immersive virtual reality (iVR) to prevent skill decay during periods of training cessation and beyond.

Methods: A review of pertinent literature for orthopaedic surgical skill decay was performed. Early experience by faculty instructors and residency and fellowship program directors was gathered from multiple institutions with experience in virtual training methods including iVR. A proposed curriculum for cognitive and manual skill acquisition during COVID-19 was produced from qualitative narrative group opinion.

Results: Skill decay can occur on the order of days to months and is dependent on the initial skill level. A novel curriculum for structured continuing medical education during and after periods of surgical disruption including e-learning, virtual meetings, and iVR simulators was produced from expert opinion and based on competency-based curriculum standards.

Conclusion: Skill decay mitigation strategies should use best available evidence technologies and course structures that satisfy advanced learning concepts. The virtual curriculum including iVR simulators may provide cost-effective solutions to training.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Atesok K, Satava RM, Van Heest A, et al.: Retention of skills after simulation- based training in orthopaedic. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2016;24:505-514.
    1. Gomoll AH, Pappas G, Forsythe B, Warner JJP: Individual skill progression on a virtual reality simulator for shoulder arthroscopy: A 3-year follow-up study. Am J Sports Med 2008;36:1139-1142.
    1. Moktar J, Bradley CS, Maxwell A, Wedge JH, Kelley SP, Murnaghan ML: Skill acquisition and retention following simulation-based training in pavlik harness application. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2016;98:866-870.
    1. Putnam MD, Adams JE, Lender P, et al.: Examination of skill acquisition and grader bias in a distal radius fracture fixation model. J Surg Educ 2018;75:1299-1308.
    1. Meeks BD, Kiskaddon E, Sirois ZJ, Froehle A, Shroyer J, Laughlin RT: Improvement and retention of arthroscopic skills in novice subjects using fundamentals of arthroscopic surgery training (FAST) module. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2020;28:511-516.

LinkOut - more resources