Introduction: Hip resurfacing Arthroplasty (HRA) is a technique with a significant learning curve and associated high failure rate is described by some authors[l], although technical errors are not cited as the principal reasons for such otherwise inexplicably high failure rates[2]. Improvement in techniques, to improve accuracy on the operating table have been suggested, using either fluoroscopic guidance[3], or fluoroscopic based surgical navigation[4]. We designed a trial that investigated the separate individual impacts of three dimensional planning and navigation when compared to conventional planning and instrumentation in the adoption of a novel technology such as hip resurfacing. Method: Twenty bones were obtained from Sawbones. They were of 4 different types: Normal anatomy (11 cases), Osteoarthritis (5), Slipped capital femoral epiphy-sis (2), Coxa Valga (2). 20 medical students were recruited who had already learnt about arthroplasty in general, and had been taught the principles of hip resurfacing, as well as the place of planning and navigation in hip arthroplasty. They were given three tasks and randomized into three groups who performed each of the three tasks in rotation.
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