Analysis of Hip Preservation Questions on the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination Over the Past 20 Years

Abstract

Background:

The orthopaedic in-training examination (OITE) is a 275-question test for orthopaedic residents administered annually. As the field of orthopaedics changes, the OITE evolves its content. The incidence of hip preservation–related procedures has increased substantially over the past decade; nonetheless, an analysis of the trends of hip preservation questions on the OITE has not yet been performed.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the number and type of questions on the OITE related to hip preservation to determine whether trends over time paralleled the increases in hip-related care in clinical practice. It was hypothesized that the frequency of hip preservation questions on the OITE would increase with time.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Methods:

Each OITE between 2002 and 2021 was reviewed for questions related to hip preservation. The types of questions included under “hip preservation” were those related to femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), athletic soft tissue injuries of the hip, acetabular labral tears, hip arthroscopy, and surgical management of adult hip dysplasia—excluding arthroplasty. Questions were quantified and categorized by topic, taxonomy level, associated imaging, and cited sources.

Results:

There were 30 hip preservation–related questions between 2002 and 2021. Of these, 77% occurred within the past 10 years. Also, 14 questions (47%) had associated images in the question stem—the most common being radiographs (n = 8 questions). The most commonly tested subcategories were FAI (n = 11 questions [37%]), athletic injuries (n = 7 questions [23%]), and anatomy (n = 7 questions [23%]). Over the last 10 years, 97.9% of citations were from journal articles—the most common being the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research, and the American Journal of Sports Medicine.

Conclusion:

The frequency of hip preservation–related questions on the OITE has increased with time, reflecting trends in clinical practice.