Cadaveric workshop using computer navigation

On 16-17 April 2018 students studying on 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 cadaveric workshops using computer-aided navigation.

These Total Hip and Knee Workshops were presented by one of the world’s most highly regarded computer navigation orthopaedic surgeons, Mr Kamal Deep, who used three computer-aided Orthopilot navigation arthroplasty systems throughout the two days.

Normally in similar workshops a lead surgeon will demonstrate such procedures on a single cadaveric specimen to a group of observers or a group of perhaps half a dozen surgeons but here at the University of Dundee six cadavers were used with each MCh (Orth) candidate operating on the upper limb of a cadaver. This is a unique feature of this course.

Mr Deep was assisted by his travelling Faculty from India and across the United Kingdom. The workshop was sponsored by B. Braun Aesculap. Also on hand organising and running the workshops were staff from CAHID and the TORT Centre.

Mr Kamal Deep and Professor Rami Abboud, not wearing Theatre greens, with the MCh (Orth) candidates prior to the workshop beginning.

“It is always a joy and indeed a privilege to welcome Mr Kamal Deep to the TORT Centre and University each year. Mr Deep and his assistant surgeons give up their time each year. I cannot thank Mr Deep enough for his ongoing commitment and support of our MCh (Orth) course and its mission to enrich our candidates’ surgical knowledge with the latest technological advances in Surgery”, said Professor Rami Abboud, MCh (Orth) Course Director and Head of Department of Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgery.

“I am grateful and thankful that Mr Jariwala and Mr Nasir were able to play hosts for the travelling faculty on my behalf in showing our immense appreciation for their continuous contribution”.

“I would also like to extend thanks to B. Braun Aescalap for all their continued assistance in running the workshops. They graciously, and at no cost to the University, supply the Orthopilot® navigation systems which each cost £1million”, added Professor Abboud.

“I would once again like to take this opportunity to thank Professor Dame Sue Black for her vision in developing the outstanding facilities at CAHID for Thiel embalming which offers our MCh candidates and our surgical trainees with a unique experience to enhance their surgical skills. CAHID’s facilities allow us to continually strive to improve upon the course syllabus of this already successful world-renowned surgical degree”

“This two-day workshop is a truly unique and memorable experience for these orthopaedic surgeons, one they can only experience by enrolling on this particular MCh (Orth) course at the University of Dundee. I hope they all enjoyed the workshops”.

“Finally, I would like to state my gratitude to all those who generously and voluntary bequeath their bodies to medical science for anatomical examination, research, education and training. Their generosity and pioneering spirit only goes to benefit future generations” added Professor Abboud.

Left: Mr Arpit Jariwala and Mr Kamal Deep (3rd and 2nd from right) with teaching faculty on the evening of the first workshop; Right: The Orthopilot system.

Dr Amitava Narayan Mukerjee, spoke on behalf of the current MCh (Orth) students when he stated: "This was a great experience to have the navigation on cadaver for TKR and THR and this will be very helpful for practical purposes. The most important thing is the accuracy and precision in arthroplasty which was taught very nicely. The faculty was very friendly and precise. I personally will remember this workshop as an exceptional element of an all together ideal course" 

THEIL SOFT-EMBALMED CADAVERS

In 2011, the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID), under the leadership of Professor Sue Black OBE, 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

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.