What are the most difficult steps in total hip arthroplasty for early-career surgeons and how can future technology help most? A survey of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Young Arthroplasty Group

Abstract

Purpose

While technology in total hip arthroplasty (THA) is generally developed by experienced surgeons, particular difficulties in surgical steps and technical demands experienced by early-career surgeons remain important. This study investigated the challenges early-career surgeons currently face in THA in order to obtain insights into how they perceive future innovative technologies might reduce the difficulties and complications associated with THA.

Methods

Members of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Young Arthroplasty Group were surveyed. The perceived degree of difficulty with key THA surgical steps and the utility of adjunctive technology were recorded (scale 1–10, from no difficulty/not important to very difficult/very important).

Results

The membership response rate was 16.1%. The most common THA approach was the direct anterior approach (DAA) (67.4%). Four of the top five most difficult surgical steps were associated with cup preparation/placement. Fluoroscopy was the most used technology (56.7%), followed by no technology use (21.2%) and robot arm assistance (12.1%). With respect to the importance of technology, accurate cup placement ranked first. Dislocation and stem subsidence were the top two complications for which technological advances were thought to be most beneficial. Subgroup analysis based on surgical approach suggested that DAA users had significantly more difficulty with direction of stem rasping than non-DAA users (p ​< ​0.0001).

Conclusion

This is the first survey to reveal data about perceived difficulties in THA surgical steps from the perspective of early-career arthroplasty surgeons and the role of technology in mitigating these complications. Future technological developments may take these needs of early-career surgeons into account.