Low Ankle Arthroscopy Procedural Volume Amongst Graduating Orthopedic Surgery Residents

CATEGORY: Ankle; Arthroscopy; Sports INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate trends in graduating orthopedic resident case volume and variability for ankle arthroscopy. METHODS: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education surgical case log data from 2016 to 2020 for graduating United States orthopedic surgery residents was assessed. Arthroscopy procedures of the leg/ankle were identified. The average number of cases performed per resident was compared from 2016 to 2020 to determine the percent change in case volume. The 10th, 30th, 50th, 70th, and 90th percentiles of case volumes from 2016 to 2020 were presented to demonstrate case volume variability. RESULTS: There was no significant change in the average number of leg/ankle arthroscopy cases from 2016 to 2020 [6.2 +- 5 [range 0 to 35] vs. 6.1 +- 6 [range 0 to 76] [p=0.732], despite a 19% increase in the average number of total leg/ankle procedures performed over time (168.4 +- 47 [range 55-414] in 2016; 200.8 +- 57 in 2020 [range 67-601], p <0.001). There was wide variability in ankle arthroscopy case volume amongst residents. The 90th percentile of residents performed 13 cases in 2020, compared to 5 in 50th percentile, and 1 in the 10th percentile. CONCLUSION: Despite the growing popularity of ankle arthroscopy, orthopedic resident exposure to this technical procedure remains generally low. Understanding trends in case volume and variability is important for programs to ensure that orthopedic residents are gaining adequate exposure to increasingly popular procedures. Implementing minimum case requirements for ankle arthroscopy during orthopedic residency may be helpful to increase exposure to ankle arthroscopy and reduce variability in experience.