Evaluating Basic Knee Arthroscopy Skills in Orthopaedic Trainees in a Limited-Resource Setting

Kirsty Berry¹, Richard von Bormann², Stephen Roche³, Maritz Laubscher⁴, Graham McCollum⁵, Michael Held⁶

Affiliations

¹ Registrar University of Cape Town, Orthopaedic Registrar University of Cape Town, South Africa.
² Department of Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
³ Shoulder and Elbow Unit, Department of Orthopaedics, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁴ Trauma and Limb Reconstruction, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁵ Trauma and Foot and Ankle Unit, Department of Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁶ Knee Unit, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

PMID: 36698989
PMCID: PMC9835891
DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.OA.22.00020

Review

Evaluating Basic Knee Arthroscopy Skills in Orthopaedic Trainees in a Limited-Resource Setting

Kirsty Berry et al. JB JS Open Access. 2023.

. 2023 Jan 12;8(1):e22.00020.

doi: 10.2106/JBJS.OA.22.00020. eCollection 2023 Jan-Mar.

Authors

Kirsty Berry¹, Richard von Bormann², Stephen Roche³, Maritz Laubscher⁴, Graham McCollum⁵, Michael Held⁶

Affiliations

¹ Registrar University of Cape Town, Orthopaedic Registrar University of Cape Town, South Africa.
² Department of Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
³ Shoulder and Elbow Unit, Department of Orthopaedics, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁴ Trauma and Limb Reconstruction, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁵ Trauma and Foot and Ankle Unit, Department of Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁶ Knee Unit, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

PMID: 36698989
PMCID: PMC9835891
DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.OA.22.00020

Abstract

Orthopaedic training in Southern Africa is largely focused on trauma, although elective procedures, such as knee arthroscopy, are increasing. This is especially true in the private sector where most trainees will practice. The primary aim of this study was to assess the arthroscopic competency of orthopaedic trainees in a setting of limited resources.

Methods: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted. Orthopaedic trainees of a Southern African university hospital performed basic arthroscopy on a knee model. Their surgical competency was assessed by 2 surgeons proficient in arthroscopy using the modified Basic Knee Arthroscopy Skill Scoring System (mBAKSSS).

Results: A total of 16 trainees (12 male) were included (6 junior and 10 senior trainees). The median age of participants was 36 (34.8-37) years. The median mBAKSSS was 28.0 (20.3-32.5) but showed a large variability (12.0-42.5). The overall reliability was excellent with Cronbach's alpha of 0.91 and interclass correlation of 0.91 (95% confidence interval 0.75-0.97).

Conclusions: The average knee arthroscopy proficiency of our trainees is comparable with that of international training programs, but there was great variability with inconsistent skills among the trainees. This calls for improved and reproducible arthroscopy training and skills transfer, exposure to procedures, and ongoing assessment.

Level of evidence: II (prospective observational cohort study).

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest forms are provided with the online version of the article (http://links.lww.com/JBJSOA/A446).

Figures

**Fig. 1**
Box and whisker plot depicting individual categories of the mBAKSSS for 16 trainees assessed. The average score for each component of the tool from the 2 raters was used in the analysis. A Likert scale rates these categories from 1 (worst) to 5 (best).

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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Evaluating Basic Knee Arthroscopy Skills in Orthopaedic Trainees in a Limited-Resource Setting

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Evaluating Basic Knee Arthroscopy Skills in Orthopaedic Trainees in a Limited-Resource Setting

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Conflict of interest statement

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