Table 1 Data on the patients, surgeons and procedures

Mean age±SD

42±13

41±14

0.65

Surgeon experience (percent performed by each group)

Novice

40.9%

36.4%

0.66

Experienced

59.1%

63.6%

Surgical level of difficulty^a

Level 1

29.5%

31.8%

0.82

Level 2

70.5%

68.2%