Abstract
BACKGROUND: Wrist arthroscopy has been an evolving field in recent times and is widely used for the management of various wrist pathologies. The technique has a steep learning curve and requires specialized training. The present study determines the role cadaveric workshops play in helping surgeons acquire the skills of wrist arthroscopy and incorporate the technique into their surgical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three wrist arthroscopy cadaveric courses were conducted each year between 2017 and 2019. Each course included 25 participants, for a total of 75 participants. We analyzed the data acquired from questionnaires filled by 54 surgeons who attended the full two-day wrist arthroscopy cadaveric course and had a minimum of two years of practice in India after the workshop. RESULTS: Out of 54, 38 participants had no exposure to wrist arthroscopy before the workshop. Of these, 26 were performing wrist arthroscopy two years after the workshop, and among these, 13 surgeons had done three or fewer cases, while 13 surgeons had done more than three cases in a year following the workshop (p < 0.05). Considering wrist arthroscopic procedures performed two years after the workshop, 42 participants (77.8%) were performing wrist arthroscopic procedures (p<0.001). Of these, 15 had done fewer than three procedures per year, while 27 had done more than three procedures per year (p < 0.001). The requirement for further training, lack of infrastructure, and the need for expert supervision were the three main challenges to performing wrist arthroscopy. CONCLUSION: Cadaveric courses dedicated to wrist arthroscopy help to impart skills that can be successfully transferred to the operating theater, as seen by a positive change in the practice of surgeons who had completed the cadaveric course.