A hierarchical task analysis of shoulder arthroscopy for a virtual arthroscopic tear diagnosis and evaluation platform (VATDEP).

Background: Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for diagnosis and treatment of a shoulder pathology. The procedure is performed with a fiber optic camera, called arthroscope, and instruments inserted through very tiny incisions made around the shoulder. The confined shoulder space, unintuitive camera orientation and constrained instrument motions complicates the procedure.