BACKGROUND The relative importance of the different factors that cause surgical error is unknown. Malpractice claim file analysis may help to identify leading causes of surgical error and identify opportunities for prevention. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 444 closed malpractice claims, from 4 malpractice liability insurers, in which patients alleged a surgical error. Surgeon-reviewers ...

Refractive errors are frequently found following cataract surgery and refractive lens exchange. Accurate biometric analysis, selection and calculation of the adequate intraocular lens (IOL) and modern techniques for cataract surgery all contribute to achieving the goal of cataract surgery as a refractive procedure with no refractive error. However, in spite of all these advances, residual refra...

Robots promise to enhance minimally-invasive surgery, but flexion of the thin instrument shaft introduces error into models of the robot kinematics. Visual or electromagnetic tracking of the instrument tip provides correct forward kinematics, but uncertainty in shaft bending and port location leaves residual errors in inverse kinematics. These errors can cause incorrect motions that preclude th...

CONTEXT National patient safety goals and error reduction efforts should be addressed by each surgical pathology laboratory. OBJECTIVE To review issues relevant to patient safety and error reduction in surgical pathology in the context of continuous quality improvement. DATA SOURCES The literature is reviewed. CONCLUSIONS Patient safety goals can and should be addressed within the context...

Image-based surgical techniques can support minimally invasive keyhole neurosurgery through the segmentation of computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, optimal surgical planning, and surgical guidance. Keyhole neurosurgery requires automatic surgical planning and accuracy guidance for a target of the non-invasive or minimally invasive treatment of an anatomical structure. For support...

Pedicle screw instrumentation is an important tool in an orthopaedic surgeon's armamentarium in the management of spinal fractures. Complications with this system have been studied extensively. Due to the exacting technique the possibility of surgical error exists while using this modality. We studied a series of 216 cases where pedicular screws had been used and isolated 34 cases of implant fa...

BACKGROUND The "hidden curriculum" and role models for responding to medical errors might play a central role in influencing residents' attitudes about disclosure. We sought to compare surgical and nonsurgical residents' exposure to role modeling for responding to medical errors and their attitudes about error disclosure. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a cross-sectional, electronic survey of surgi...

the distally based sural fasciocutaneous flap has become a main part of the reconstruction of the lower leg, heel and foot. however, perfusion problems and venous congestion have been reported. over the past decade, several flap modifications have been reported to improve flap viability and to solve a myriad of reconstructive needs. the purpose of this paper is to describe our experience in har...