Evaluation of the Acquisition of Ultrasound Proficiency in Hand Surgery Fellows.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate hand surgery fellow ultrasound (US) evaluations and performance of clinically relevant tasks after brief instruction.

METHODS: Six hand surgery fellows completed an US assessment and a survey on US use before and 1 month after a 30-minute US course.

RESULTS: The time to obtain an adequate image decreased from 4 minutes 42 seconds (4:42; range, 3:57-7:55) to 0:52 (range, 0:30-1:14; P < .001). Participants' performance for structure identification improved from 9.7 (range, 8-13) to 12 (range, 10-13) of 14 structures (P < .05). The average time to completion decreased from 14:6 (range, 12:08-18:30) to 9:34 (range, 4:40-15:54; P < .01). After instruction, all 6 participants identified and measured the cross-sectional area of the median nerve, identified and measured a zone 3 flexor tendon gap, and identified a simulated flexor digitorum profundus avulsion and its level of retraction (P < .05). Five of 6 successfully administered an US-guided injection to the extensor carpi ulnaris subsheath.

CONCLUSIONS: After a 30-minute instructional session, hand surgery fellows can achieve a basic level of US competency.