Structured spine fellowship programs in India: Current trends and perceptions

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: The present study aimed to assess the quality of training provided during Structured Spine Fellowships (SSF) and explore the expectations of candidates. The study sought to investigate the utility of SSFs and emphasized the importance of evaluating the fellowship center’s curriculum as well as trainees’ surgical and theoretical competency. Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on 100 spine surgeons, 66 from Fellow of the National Board and 34 from the Association of Spine Surgeons of India, using a questionnaire. The survey had three parts, assessing pre-fellowship demographics, feedback on the fellowship conducted, and post-fellowship settlement. Results: The hands-on experience was the most important factor affecting the choice of center, and the average work time was 14 h per day. Nearly 50% of fellows were doing independent cervical dorsal and lumbar surgeries by the end of the fellowship. Academics were mainly in the form of regular case presentations for 55% of fellows, and the average number of publications done was 1.6. Most fellows settled near their native city, practiced exclusive spine surgery, and did a mean of 2.6 additional fellowships. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive overview of the structured spine fellowship programs in India. The findings highlight the need for standardization and quality control measures in these programs to ensure that they provide a comprehensive and uniform education to the fellows. The study also underscores the importance of ongoing evaluation and assessment to improve the effectiveness of these programs in producing skilled and competent spine surgeons.