Written by Danny Goel, MD, MBA, MSc, FRCSC
Facing the Daunting Start
When I think back to the first time I tried to learn arthroscopy, one word comes to mind: daunting. Arthroscopy training for residents is known to present some of the toughest challenges early in orthopedic programs. As a junior resident, I had never even seen or held an arthroscope before, yet I was standing next to an attending who was exceptionally skilled. The skill gap between us felt massive, and I quickly realized that this was not something you could just “pick up” by watching. To make things even more confusing, the scope itself has a 30-degree angled lens (and a 70-degree as well by the way), meaning you’re never looking straight ahead, but rather at an angle. That took me a long time to wrap my head around.
Early Training Obstacles and Orthopedic Residency Challenges
I remember going down to the cadaver lab, determined to figure this out. But the process itself was exhausting. First, I had to set up the entire system: getting the scope and the camera aligned, making sure there was enough fluid in the buckets so I could have irrigation, and then setting up the cadaver to do a knee scope. That was the first hour and I had practiced zero skills. By the time everything was ready, I often felt like I’d already lost the battle. More often than not, I couldn’t see anything clearly, and my skills didn’t feel like they were progressing. And I was only trying to learn how to do a diagnostic arthroscopy, the basic fundamental starting ground for all joints. These orthopedic residency challenges often slow surgical skill development in residency, especially for complex procedures.
Lessons from Mentorship and Long-Term Skill Development
It wasn’t until my fourth year of residency that things began to improve. I had a mentor who let me operate more (bless his heart), especially in shoulder arthroscopy. That hands-on experience was invaluable, and by fellowship, I finally felt like I was gaining real confidence (that journey started in PGY-2, so I was already nearly 5 years in and hadn’t perfected this skill). If that’s not a long learning curve, I don’t know what is. Years later, in practice, I found myself still improving, appreciating all the little nuances my attendings used to do to make my life easier during the case. Ironically, those little unspoken maneuvers added an element of complexity when I was on my own.
Modern Solutions: Virtual Reality Surgical Training
This extended learning curve is something we all share as surgeons. It’s a reminder that arthroscopy is not intuitive; it’s a skill set that requires repetition, feedback, and time. Unfortunately, residents don’t always get the consistent hands-on training they need, and cadaver labs or high-end simulators are expensive and not easily accessible.
That’s why I’m so excited to share that today, we’re adding to our arthroscopy training platform library. Alongside our shoulder and hip modules, we’ve now launched a Diagnostic Knee Arthroscopy Simulation in Virtual Reality. Contact us now for access, support@precisionostech.com .
The Benefits of Diagnostic Knee Arthroscopy Simulation
With this platform, you don’t need a cadaver, you don’t need an expensive simulator, and you don’t need to worry about setting up buckets of fluid or troubleshooting old equipment. Instead, you can step into a fully immersive environment, alternate between 30° and 70° scopes, manipulate the knee freely, and practice over and over again until it clicks.
Advancing Surgical Skill Development in Residency
Our mission has always been to lower barriers and accelerate learning for residents around the world. This new diagnostic knee module is a step toward changing the model of arthroscopy education, making it more accessible, more repeatable, and more effective. This approach supports advanced surgical skill development in residency programs across the globe.
I wish I had something like this when I started. It would have saved me (and likely my attending surgeons) years of frustration while driving accelerated growth as an arthroscopist. Fortunately, now, future generations don’t have to go through that same steep climb alone. It’s here and available for anyone who wants to improve their skill as an arthroscopic surgeon.
Über PrecisionOS
PrecisionOS is an award-winning medical software company redefining surgical training through virtual reality. Built by surgeons for surgeons, PrecisionOS empowers healthcare teams around the world with immersive, measurable, and patient-centered learning experiences.
