A Low Cost Emergency Laparotomy Task Trainer for Major Abdominal Bleeding: An Option for Surgical Residents to Learn Lifesaving Basic Surgical Skills.

Objective: To instantly stop life threatening abdominal bleeding (e.g., a ruptured abdominal aneurysm), every surgeon should be familiar with the principles of emergency laparotomy (EL) and aortic clamping. Simulation training in a safe environment can be used to rehearse these situations like other medical emergencies. Owing to the lack of a suitable commercial simulator, a homemade task trainer was constructed. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of an EL simulation training course among surgical residents using this low cost task trainer. Methods: To enable simulation training for massive abdominal bleeding with subsequent EL and aortic clamping, a multiprofessional team developed an EL task trainer. A structured evaluation of the trainer and its applicability was performed by external consultants, who tested the trainer themselves. Instructions for constructing the trainer were created and costs were calculated. During the EL simulation course targeted for surgical trainees early in their careers, 34 participants familiarised themselves with EL. Their experiences of the feasibility of the course and increase in self assessed clinical competence in managing the situation were studied using a questionnaire. In a subgroup of trainees, the simulation was compared with a real life EL subsequent to the course. Results: Participants found that the trainer was fit for its purpose (mean score, 4.7 out of 5). Their self assessed clinical competence increased in several domains: EL as a procedure (p < 0.01), handling of intra-abdominal tissues and organs during EL (p = 0.008), and emergency procedures in intra-abdominal haemorrhage (p < 0.001). The cost for the body of the trainer was €108 and there was an additional €42 for the disposables for one training scenario. Conclusion: A low cost task trainer with pulsatile flow enabling surgical residents to rehearse EL with aortic clamping can be constructed from commonly available materials. Preliminary experience of its feasibility and effects on learning in a simulation training course have been positive.

Translation and psychometric validation of the Finnish version of the Patient Scar Assessment Scale for use in patients with burn scars.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to create a Finnish scar assessment scale by translating and evaluating the psychometric properties of the Patient Scar Assessment Scale (PSAS), a part of the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS), with burn patients to enable its use in burn care. METHODS: The translation process followed international guidelines with forward and backward translations and cognitive debriefing with patients. Psychometric validation was performed with adult patients with burns who had been treated at the Helsinki Burn Centre between 2006 and 2017 with skin grafting following the excision of deep second- or third-degree burns. To ensure reproducibility, the PSAS was sent to the study participants twice. The correlation between the PSAS and health-related quality of life (HRQL) was also tested. RESULTS: In total, 192 patients, of whom 71 % were male, participated in this study. The mean (SD) age of the participants was 57 (17) years. The internal consistency of the PSAS was good, Cronbach's α 0.89 (95 % CI: 0.86-0.91). The reproducibility was also good concerning all items and the total score, ICC from 0.77 to 0.89. As expected, the total PSAS score correlated negatively with HRQL. CONCLUSION: The PSAS was successfully translated and culturally adapted into Finnish and the newly translated version has good validity and reproducibility for assessing mature burn scars.

Costs of hospital trauma team simulation training: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the costs of 2-hour multiprofessional in situ hospital trauma team simulation training and its effects on teams' non-technical skills using the T-NOTECHS instrument. BACKGROUND: Simulation is a feasible and effective teaching and learning method. Calculating the costs of simulated trauma team training in medical emergency situations can yield valuable information for improving its overall cost-effectiveness. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: Trauma resuscitation room in Central Finland Hospital, Finland. PARTICIPANTS: 475 medical professionals in 81 consecutive, simulated trauma teams. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Team simulation training costs in 2017 and 2018 were analysed in the following two phases: (1) start-up costs and (2) costs of education. Primary outcome measures were training costs per participant and training costs per team. Secondary outcome measures were non-technical skills, which were measured on a 5-25-point scale using the T-NOTECHS instrument. RESULTS: The annual mean total costs of trauma team simulation training were €58 000 for 40 training sessions and 238 professionals. Mean cost per participant was €203. Mean cost per team was €1220. The annual costs of simulation training markedly decreased when at least 70-80 teams participated in the training. Mean change in T-NOTECHS score after simulation training was +2.86 points (95% CI 1.97 to 3.75;+14.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The greater the number of teams trained per year, the lower the costs per trauma team. In this study, we developed an activity-based costing method to calculate the costs of trauma team simulation training to help stakeholders make decisions about whether to initiate or increase existing trauma team simulation training or to obtain these services elsewhere.

Surgery for patellar dislocation has evolved towards anatomical reconstructions with assessment and treatment of anatomical risk factors.

PURPOSE: Increasing knowledge on the treatment of patellar dislocation has resulted in the development of new surgical techniques for patella stabilisation. National incidence and trends in surgery for patellar dislocation were examined using data from the Finnish National Hospital Discharge Register (NHDR). The hypothesis was that an increased understanding of the pathophysiology of patellar instability has increased the popularity of reconstructing damaged structures and modification of anatomical risk factors. METHODS: Data from the years 1997-2016 were collected from the NHDR database using ICD-10 diagnostic codes and the Nomesco Classification of Surgical Procedures (NCSP) codes. Surgical procedures were categorised into subgroups representing the main surgical approaches of patellar dislocation. Total incidence of surgery for patellar dislocation and change in incidence during the study period were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 9702 operations for patellar dislocation were performed during the study period. Median (IQR) patient age at time of primary surgery was 23 (18-34) years. The total incidence of surgeries remained stable across the study period at of 8.9 per 100,000 person-years. Incidences of ligament reconstruction, femoral osteotomies and osteochondral fragment reimplantation operations multiplied during the study period. Ligament reconstruction procedures were the most performed operations at the end of the study period. CONCLUSION: The incidence of surgical procedures for patellar dislocation remained unchanged during the years 1997-2016. Ligament reconstruction procedures increased in popularity. Surgical techniques have shifted towards the reconstruction of damaged structures and the modification of congenital anatomical risk factors for patellar dislocation. Diversified surgical techniques have enabled the tailoring and combining of stabilizing procedures according to the patient's individual anatomy.

Reliability and validity of the Finnish version of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form, patient self-report section.

BACKGROUND: The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) is one of the most widely used shoulder outcome tools in clinical work and in scientific studies. However, it has not been validated in the Finnish language. The aims of this study were to cross-culturally adapt the ASES to the Finnish language and to study the psychometric properties of the self-report section of the ASES. METHODS: A total of 105 patients with shoulder symptoms answered the questionnaires of the ASES, a single disability question, the Simple Shoulder Test (SST), and the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). The reliability of the ASES questionnaire was studied using a test-retest procedure at 2-week intervals. Psychometric assessment was performed by testing the construct validity, internal consistency, the criterion validity, and the convergent validity of the ASES. RESULTS: The reproducibility and internal consistency of the ASES were 0.83 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.90) and 0.88 (95% Cl 0.84 to 0.91). There were no significant differences between the diagnostic groups in the pain scores from the ASES, and the function score was significantly higher in the instability group compared to the other groups. The convergent validity of the ASES correlated with the SST, r = 0.73 (p < 0.001); the single disability question, r = -0.74 (p < 0.001); and the Physical Component Score of the SF-36, r = 0.57 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The Finnish version of the ASES proved to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing shoulder disabilities in patients with different shoulder diagnoses, including rotator cuff disease, instability, and osteoarthritis.

Consumption of medical resources and outcome of shoulder disorders in primary health care consulters.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder disorders are common problems in primary health care. The course of disease of patients consulting for a new episode of a shoulder problem has been thought to be benign. In this prospective cohort study, we assessed the one-year consumption of medical resources and clinical outcome of shoulder disorders inclusive of all disease episodes. METHODS: All individuals consulting primary health care for shoulder disorder in a catchment area of more than 120 000 people were included. A composite questionnaire including the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) was used to measure use of resources as well as shoulder pain and function. A follow-up assessment was performed after one year. RESULTS: A total of 128 individuals responded to the questionnaire. Only 24% of the patients had recovered after one year. Mean shoulder pain (Visual analogue scale, VAS, max 100 mm) decreased from 38.9 mm to 28.6 mm (95% CI -16.3 to -4.2 mm). The ASES score (max 100) improved significantly from 59.9 to 70.2 (95% CI 5.3 to 15.3). Mean one-year consumption of medical resources after the index consultation was 1.5 consultations, 0.5 radiological examinations, and 3.3 visits to physiotherapist. Mean resource-weighted direct costs were €543/patient/year (95% CI €351 to 735). CONCLUSIONS: Shoulder disorders are often chronic and require a significant amount of resources from the health care system. The clinical outcome of the management of shoulder disorders in our study population including also individuals who have consulted previously for a shoulder problem is notably poorer than the one reported by previous studies on new episodes. However, despite the relatively modest outcome, subjective disability is low.