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Haptic Feedback Can Provide an Objective Assessment of Arthroscopic Skills

  • Original Article
  • Knee
  • Published:
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

Abstract

The outcome of arthroscopic procedures is related to the surgeon’s skills in arthroscopy. Currently, evaluation of such skills relies on direct observation by a surgeon trainer. This type of assessment, by its nature, is subjective and time-consuming. The aim of our study was to identify whether haptic information generated from arthroscopic tools could distinguish between skilled and less skilled surgeons. A standard arthroscopic probe was fitted with a force/torque sensor. The probe was used by five surgeons with different levels of experience in knee arthroscopy performing 11 different tasks in 10 standard knee arthroscopies. The force/torque data from the hand and tool interface were recorded and synchronized with a video recording of the procedure. The torque magnitude and patterns generated were analyzed and compared. A computerized system was used to analyze the force/torque signature based on general principles for quality of performance using such measures as economy in movement, time efficiency, and consistency in performance. The results showed a considerable correlation between three haptic parameters and the surgeon’s experience, which could be used in an automated objective assessment system for arthroscopic surgery.

Level of Evidence: Level II, diagnostic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Department of Computer Science at Hull University and the operating room staff at Castle Hill Hospital in facilitating the study. We thank all who participated in the study and data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, University of Hull, Hull, UK

    George Chami MD, MRCS, MS(Orth), James W. Ward & Roger Phillips MSc, PhD, CEng, FBCS, CPIT

  2. Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals, NHS Trust, Hull, UK

    George Chami MD, MRCS, MS(Orth) & Kevin P. Sherman BMBCh(Oxon), FRCS, PhD

  3. Orthopaedic Department, Scunthorpe General Hospital, Scunthorpe, DN15 7BS, UK

    George Chami MD, MRCS, MS(Orth)

Authors
  1. George Chami MD, MRCS, MS(Orth)
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  2. James W. Ward
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  3. Roger Phillips MSc, PhD, CEng, FBCS, CPIT
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  4. Kevin P. Sherman BMBCh(Oxon), FRCS, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to George Chami MD, MRCS, MS(Orth).

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Each author certifies that he has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

Each author certifies that his institution has approved the human protocol for this investigation, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent was obtained.

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Chami, G., Ward, J.W., Phillips, R. et al. Haptic Feedback Can Provide an Objective Assessment of Arthroscopic Skills. Clin Orthop Relat Res 466, 963–968 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-008-0115-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-008-0115-9

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