MCh (Orth) Dundee Cadaveric Workshop

This week students studying the Master of Orthopaedic Surgery (MCh Orth) course at the Department of Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgery spent two days at the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID) attending and participating in Thiel soft-embalmed cadaveric workshops on 18-19 April 2016. The Total Hip and Knee Workshops were presented by one of the world's most highly respected computer navigation orthopaedic surgeons, Mr Kamal Deep, and used computer-aided Orthopilot navigation arthroplasty on the cadavers. Mr Deep was assissted throughout the two-day workshop by Dr Siddharth Shah.

Normally in such workshops a lead surgeon will demonstrate such procedures to a group of observers or alternatively a group of perhaps six surgeons will share the same cadaver but here at the University of Dundee each and every MCh (Orth) student has their own cadaver to apply the surgical techniques to, which is a unique feature of this course.

The MCh (Orth) candidates observing Mr Kamal Deep (far right) performing the surgical techniques prior to themselves working with the Thiel cadavers.

Dr Harshavardhan (MCh Orth student) stated: “This Thiel cadaver workshop on Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty was personally the most eagerly awaited element of the MCh (Orth) curriculum as it was entirely new for me. The two-day workshop was very educating and exciting as each one of us was given an individual cadaver to get hands on experience. Personally this workshop helped to broaden my vision on computer navigated arthroplasty over conventional arthroplasty. I would like to thank our faculty member Mr Kamal Deep, a renowned computer navigated arthroplasty surgeon, for being very friendly and sharing his vast knowledge with us. Personally I pay the utmost respect to all those cadavers which help advancing surgical techniques”.

Dr Veera Satya Eethakota (MCh Orth student) added: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Professor Rami Abboud for incorporating such a wonderful Thiel cadaveric workshop on “Total Hip and knee computer aided navigation arthroplasty” as a part of the MCh (Orth) Dundee program. I considered it to be the finest International computer navigated cadaveric workshop. I also want to thank Mr Kamal Deep for organizing such a wonderful workshop, and delighted in seeing his enthusiasm towards training us throughout the course. His inspiring lectures and extensive surgical skills gave me in-depth knowledge regarding basic principles and latest advances in computer aided navigation arthroplasty. Honestly, I felt this workshop was a good platform which helped me to enhance my surgical skills and refine my knowledge of arthroplasty, which will have a great impact on my future career. Thank you so much for such an enriching course”.

In 2011, the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID) at the University of Dundee, under the leadership of Professor Sue Black, took the courageous step to stop embalming cadavers via the traditional formalin method and converted solely to the Thiel soft-embalmed approach; currently the only centre in UK to do so. The benefits of this approach are many and include:

• the tissues of the deceased remain flexible and life-like to the point of being suitable for insufflation, ventilation, laparoscopic investigation and joint replacement training
• the useable duration of the remains is excellent (over 3 years) and material can subsequently be plastinated for a permanent teaching resource
• its ability to repel bacterial, fungal and viral contamination is high which is important for safe working conditions
• the ability to be trained on flexible joints mimicking real-life-like articulation

Professor Rami Abboud, MCh (Orth) Course Director and Head of Department of Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgery, stated: “It is always a special occasion for myself personally and for our students professionally to welcome Mr Kamal Deep to the TORT Centre and the University each year. Mr Deep gives up his personal time to be with us and I cannot thank him enough for his ongoing commitment and support of our MCh (Orth) course and its mission in enhancing our candidate’s surgical knowledge. This is a truly unique experience for these orthopaedic surgeons that they will only get by doing this particular MCh (Orth) course. The continued support and shared expertise from Professor Sue Black and her team at CAHID only highlights the ways in which we are continually striving to improve upon the course syllabus of this already successful world-renowned surgical degree.”

Please note that due to our strict adherence to Thiel copyright and legal agreement we are obviously restricted as to what imagery we can show in the public domain.