Shoulder & Elbow Surgical Exposure Workshop using Thiel Cadavers

The Master of Orthopaedic Surgery (MCh Orth) students participated in a Shoulder and Elbow Surgical Exposure & Rotator Cuff Repair Workshop organised and run by Mr Arpit Jariwala (Consultant Upper Limb and Trauma Surgeon / Director of UDOTS) on the morning of December 5, 2019.

This annual workshop was held at the Centre for Anatomy & Human Identification (CAHID) at the main University Campus where students performed several cadaveric dissections under the direct supervision of a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon from NHS Tayside. Pairs of participants had a Thiel cadaver to themselves with faculty guiding them through the various surgical techniques. The Thiel embalmed cadavers used are unique to the MCh (Orth) Dundee course, and afford a more realistic, moveable and flexible cadaver that better simulates real-life surgery.

Mr Jariwala was joined by his colleagues, Mr Douglas Robinson and Mr Peter Rickhuss, both Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons at NHS Tayside. Workshop support was provided by Mr Dirk Jones from Depuy Mitek UK.

MCh (Orth) students preparing for the cadaveric workshop. Mr Peter Rickhuss and Mr Douglas Robinson on left and Mr Arpit Jariwala, far right.

The following shoulder and elbow surgical exposures were explored:

• Delto pectoral approach
• Mackenzie approach to shoulder: axillary nerve exposure
• Cuff repair with helix (Depuy Mitek) anchor
• Anterolateral approach to humerus
• Posterior approach to humerus: radial nerve exposure
• Lateral approach to elbow
• Medial approach to elbow: ulnar nerve exposure
• Posterior approach to shoulder and scapula

Mr Arpit Jariwala, Director of UDOTS and workshop convenor, stated:

“I'm indebted to my NHS Tayside colleagues, Mr Douglas Robinson and Mr Peter Rickhuss, for their participation in making this workshop possible. I’d like to thank Mr Dirk Jones from Depuy Mitek UK, for assisting with the surgeries and I’d also like to show my gratitude to all at CAHID who continue to make the Thiel cadavers available for our workshops. Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those who generously bequeath their bodies to medical science for anatomical examination, research, education and training. Without these generous and forward-thinking individuals, research and future surgical understanding continues to advance.”

STUDENT FEEDBACK

“The workshop was an excellent experience, the instructors were very keen on delivering the best of their knowledge and sharing their own surgical approaches backed with evidence-based facts ... absolutely a jewel on the crown!”

“The best experience I have ever had. Was able to clear most of my doubts”

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.