A knee arthroscopy simulator: Design and validation

Many challenges exist when teaching and learning arthroscopic surgery, carrying a high risk of damaging the joint during the learning process. To minimize risk, the use of arthroscopy simulators allows trainees to learn basic skills in a risk-free environment before entering the operating room. A high-fidelity physical knee arthroscopy simulator is proposed to bridge the gap between surgeons and residents. The simulator is composed of modular and replaceable elements and can measure applied forces, instrument position and hand motion, in order to assess performance in real time. A construct validity study was conducted in order to assess the performance improvement of novices after practicing with the simulator. In addition, a face validity study involving expert surgeons indicated that the simulator provides a realistic scenario suitable for teaching basic skills. Future work involves the development of better metrics to assess user performance.