Orthopaedic surgical training: the role of continuous surveillance and x-ray analysis in a district general hospital

Abstract

Introduction Assessing orthopaedic trainees when they are operating unsupervised is difficult. Using post-operative x-rays is one possibility that has yet to be explored fully. Awareness that minimising tip–apex distance (TAD) when inserting a sliding hip screw reduces the risk of screw cut out is important for orthopaedic trainees. The advent of the Picture Archive and Communication System has made the accurate measurement of TAD from x-rays and image intensifier films much easier. This study was to determine whether TAD would be reduced if a surgeon knew that his performance was being continually monitored.