Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42211387›Full record

ArticleJournal of hand and microsurgery2026

Wrist and elbow arthroscopy case volume is low and declining in orthopedic residency and fellowship training.

Maxwell A Northrop, Paul J Pottanat, Kevin Cahoy, Alexander J Ment, Michael R Otten, Mary-Katherine Lynch, Dane N Daley, Charles A Daly

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of hand and microsurgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Maxwell A NorthropDepartment of Orthopaedics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitiation, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, CSB 708, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
Paul J PottanatDepartment of Orthopaedics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitiation, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, CSB 708, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
Kevin CahoyDepartment of Orthopaedics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitiation, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, CSB 708, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
Alexander J MentDepartment of Orthopaedics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitiation, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, CSB 708, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
Michael R OttenDepartment of Orthopaedics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitiation, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, CSB 708, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
Mary-Katherine LynchDepartment of Orthopaedics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitiation, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, CSB 708, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
Dane N DaleyDepartment of Orthopaedics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitiation, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, CSB 708, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
Charles A DalyDepartment of Orthopaedics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitiation, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, CSB 708, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Previous research has clearly shown that surgeon case volume is directly correlated with surgical outcomes in arthroscopic surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the exposure to wrist and elbow arthroscopy that graduating orthopedic surgery residents and fellows receive. Methods: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) case log data from 2014 to 2024 was reviewed for graduating orthopedic residents, hand surgery fellows, and orthopedic sports medicine fellows in the United States. Mean and median numbers of wrist and elbow arthroscopy cases logged per resident or fellow were compared to assess procedure volume. The 10th and 90th percentiles of case volumes were analyzed to assess variability. Trends were evaluated over time to determine changes in case exposure. Results: Wrist arthroscopy volume reported by orthopedic residents decreased from 4.6 ± 5 (median 3, range 0-46) to 3.0 ± 3 (1, 0-23) cases per resident ( Conclusions: Despite the established role of wrist arthroscopy in upper extremity orthopedic surgery, resident exposure is limited and has declined over recent years. Fellowship training has not offset this decline, with wrist and elbow arthroscopy volume decreasing significantly in hand and sports medicine fellowships. These trends raise concerns over preparedness to safely and independently perform these technically demanding procedures in practice after training. Level of evidence: IV.

Indexed as

AccreditationACGMECase volumeElbow arthroscopyGraduate medical educationWrist arthroscopy

Identifiers

PMID42211387
PMCPMC13213755

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.