Drilling sounds are used by surgeons and intermediate residents, but not novice orthopedic trainees, to guide drilling motions.

摘要

BACKGROUND: The purpose of our study was to investigate the impact of distracting noise on the performance on a simulated orthopedic bone drilling skill when that noise blocks routine auditory feedback associated with the sounds of the drill. METHODS: Medical students (n=11), intermediate residents (postgraduate years 3-5, n=10) and surgeons (n=8) each drilled 20 bicortical holes in a femur bone from a lamb: 10 holes without and 10 holes with the presence of distracting noise. We quantified surgical outcome in the form of plunge depth using computer-assisted objective methods. RESULTS: Novice participants plunged more than did the intermediate trainees and surgeons (p<0.001). With the addition of distracting noise, the plunges of both intermediate residents and surgeons were affected. CONCLUSION: Distracting noise impairs orthopedic bone drilling performance, and the ability to use drilling sounds to guide drilling motions is part of surgical expertise.