ACGME Case Volume Minimums Decrease the Number of Shoulder and Knee Arthroscopies Performed by Residents

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine how the implementation of Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) case minimums in 2013 has affected the number of shoulder and knee arthroscopies performed by orthopaedic surgery residents during their clinical training.MethodsThe ACGME orthopaedic surgery case log data from graduation years 2007 to 2019 was used to evaluate the number of shoulder and knee arthroscopies performed. The mean and median number of cases performed per resident were compared for the years prior to implementation of the ACGME case minimum (2007-2012) and after (2013-2019).ResultsThe ACGME orthopaedic surgery case minimums resulted in a significant decrease in the mean number of shoulder and knee arthroscopies performed. The mean number of shoulder arthroscopies performed in the years before and after the case minimum requirement were 109.8 and 82.0 (P = .025), respectively. The mean number of knee arthroscopies performed in the years before and after the case minimum requirement were 178.6 and 124.8 (P = .006), respectively. Residents in the tenth percentile of cases performed still met the required ACGME case minimums each year. The mean total of all cases performed in the years before and after the case minimum requirement were 2045.5 and 1699.3 (P = .038), respectively.ConclusionsThe number of shoulder and knee arthroscopies performed by orthopaedic surgery residents significantly decreased after the implementation of ACGME case minimums, which may be due to underreporting of cases.Clinical RelevanceThis study may demonstrate the effect of the implementation of the ACGME case minimums on the number of shoulder and knee arthroscopies performed by orthopaedic surgery residents.