Pre-operative planning in orthopaedics: a study of surgeons' opinions.

Pre-operative planning is important in orthopaedic surgery in both trauma and elective orthopaedic surgery. We know of no study into surgeons attitudes to pre-operative planning. A postal questionnaire was used to ascertain attitudes to planning. 94% of consultants and 100% of trainees felt that planning was important but half, respectively, routinely planned fracture treatment. Only 24% of trainees and 44% consultants traced fracture configurations from radiographs. 88% of trainees and 91% of consultants felt that planning should be undertaken more often with 94% of consultants expressing a view that trainees should do more planning. Pre-operative planning is good practice and from our study we have shown both trainees and consultants feel it should be undertaken more often.