PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Monate Praamsma
AU  - Heather Carnahan
AU  - David Backstein
AU  - Christian J.H. Veillette
AU  - David Gonzalez
AU  - Adam Dubrowski
TI  - Drilling sounds are used by surgeons and intermediate residents, but not novice orthopedic trainees, to guide drilling motions
DP  - 2008 Dec 01
TA  - Canadian Journal of Surgery
PG  - 442--446
VI  - 51
IP  - 6
4099  - http://canjsurg.ca/content/51/6/442.short
4100  - http://canjsurg.ca/content/51/6/442.full
SO  - CAN J SURG2008 Dec 01; 51
AB  - 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.