Assessment of Skill Transfer From a 3D-Printed Knee Arthroscopy Simulator: A Randomized Controlled Trial

IntroductionArthroscopic surgery demands specialized skills, traditionally acquired via supervised clinical practice. Simulators offer a controlled training alternative. This study introduces a 3D-printed knee arthroscopy simulator and evaluates its effectiveness in skill transfer and acceptance in medical education, aiming to assess its utility for real arthroscopic procedures among medical students.MethodsForty final-year medical students with no prior arthroscopy experience were randomized into a simulated training group (3D-printed simulator) and a control group (video instruction). All participants performed a supervised diagnostic arthroscopy. Performance parameters (completion time, lookdowns, instrument loss, triangulation time, interventions) and Arthroscopic Surgery Skill Evaluation Tool (ASSET) scores were analyzed. Simulator acceptance was assessed via a Likert scale. Data were analyzed using appropriate parametric (Student's t-test) and non-parametric (Wilcoxon, McNemar) tests, with a significance level of 5%."ResultsThe simulated training group outperformed controls, completing arthroscopy 39% faster (<i>P</i> < .001), with 60% fewer lookdowns (<i>P</i> = .001), 59% fewer supervisor interventions (<i>P</i> < .001), 35% shorter triangulation time (<i>P</i> = .019), and 50% fewer instrument losses (<i>P</i> < .001). ASSET scores were significantly higher in all domains except safety. Participants strongly endorsed the simulator's utility and supported its integration into medical education.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the effectiveness of our low-cost, reproducible 3D-printed knee arthroscopy simulator as an effective tool for skill acquisition and transfer in individuals without prior arthroscopy experience. Training with the simulator significantly improves performance in real arthroscopic procedures.