title: Arthroscopic skills assessment and use of box model for training in arthroscopic surgery using Sawbones - "FAST" workstation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Arthroscopic skills training outside the operative room may decrease risks and errors by trainee surgeons. There is a need of simple objective method for evaluating proficiency and skill of arthroscopy trainees using simple bench model of arthroscopic simulator. The aim of this study is to correlate motor task performance to level of prior arthroscopic experience and establish benchmarks for training modules.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty orthopaedic surgeons performed a set of tasks to assess a) arthroscopic triangulation, b) navigation, c) object handling and d) meniscus trimming using SAWBONES "FAST" arthroscopy skills workstation. Time to completion and the errors were computed. The subjects were divided into four levels; "Novice", "Beginner", "Intermediate" and "Advanced" based on previous arthroscopy experience, for analyses of performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The task performance under transparent dome was not related to experience of the surgeon unlike opaque dome, highlighting the importance of hand-eye co-ordination required in arthroscopy. Median time to completion for each task improved as the level of experience increased and this was found to be statistically significant (p < .05) e.g. time for maze navigation (Novice - 166 s, Beginner - 135.5 s, Intermediate - 100 s, Advance - 97.5 s) and the similar results for all tasks. Majority (>85%) of subjects across all the levels reported improvement in performance with sequential tasks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of the arthroscope requires visuo-spatial coordination which is a skill that develops with practice. This simple box model can reliably differentiate the arthroscopic skills based on experience and can be used to monitor progression of skills of trainees in institutions.
authors: Orthopaedics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut 71515, Egypt - G.G. Medical Institute and Research Centre, 106/2 Sanjay Place, Agra 282004, India.
authors: Saumitra
authors: S
authors: Goyal
authors: Arthroscopy & Sports Injuries Unit, Orthopaedics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt.
authors: Mohamed Abdel
authors: MA
authors: Radi
authors: Arthroscopy & Sports Injuries Unit, Orthopaedics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt.
authors: Islam Karam-Allah
authors: IK
authors: Ramadan
authors: Arthroscopy & Sports Injuries Unit, Orthopaedics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt.
authors: Hatem Galal
authors: HG
authors: Said