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International Orthopaedics

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20-10-2022 | Distal Radius Fracture | Original Paper

Methods of assessment of the level of surgeons for minimally invasive fixation of distal radius fractures: “expertise” versus “performance”

Authors: François Ducournau, Laela El Amiri, Paul Vernet, Marie-Cécile Sapa, Philippe Liverneaux

Published in: International Orthopaedics | Issue 1/2023

Abstract

Introduction

The results of surgical techniques vary depending on the level of the surgeon’s experience. The level of expertise can be evaluated quantitatively or qualitatively. In this study, we evaluated the duration of the procedure and the size of the incision of minimally invasive fixation of distal radius fractures as a means of grading expertise and surgical performance. The null hypothesis of our study was that the level of expertise did not match the level of performance.

Material and methods

The study included 52 surgeons split in five levels of expertise who had performed 467 minimally invasive fixations of distal radius fractures. The performance of the surgeons in terms of duration of the procedure and size of the incision were scored according to the five levels of surgical experience using four different methodologies: clinical (setting limits compared to data found in literature), statistical (setting statistical limits of comparison in percentiles (20th, 40th, 60th, 80th) for each of the two parameters measured), arithmetical (setting limits compared to equal intervals for each of the 2 variables), and success rate (setting a threshold for each of the 2 variables).

Results

Our results showed a great disparity between levels of experience depending on the method used. The scores for levels 1 and 2 were 72% for expertise, 13% for performance according to the clinical method, 75% for the statistical method, 0% for the arithmetical method, and 57% according the success rate. The rate of level 3 was 23% for expertise, 41% for performance by the clinical method, 17% by the statistical method, 17% by the arithmetical method, and 15% by the success rate. The rates of levels 4 and 5 were 5% for expertise, 46% for performance clinical method, 8% by the statistical method, 83% by the arithmetical method, and 28% by the success rate.

Discussion

The null hypothesis of our study was confirmed by the results which show that there was no correlation between levels of expertise and performance. The clinical method of assessment appears to reflect best the true level of performance of the surgeon.

Conclusion

Publications reporting the results of a surgical technique for a given pathology should always mention the level of performance as measured on a clinical scale.

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Title: Methods of assessment of the level of surgeons for minimally invasive fixation of distal radius fractures: “expertise” versus “performance”
Authors: François Ducournau
Laela El Amiri
Paul Vernet
Marie-Cécile Sapa
Philippe Liverneaux
Publication date: 20-10-2022
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Distal Radius Fracture
Expert Opinion
Incision
Expert Opinion
Published in: International Orthopaedics / Issue 1/2023
Print ISSN: 0341-2695
Electronic ISSN: 1432-5195
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-022-05609-5

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Methods of assessment of the level of surgeons for minimally invasive fixation of distal radius fractures: “expertise” versus “performance”

Abstract

Introduction

Material and methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Introduction

Material and methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

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