Discovering new teaching methods during Pandemic : Fusion of Applied Anatomy, Simulation and Cadaveric Arthroscopic Shoulder Course

Mr Arpit Jariwala (Director UDOTS) organised and ran an Improving Surgical Training (IST) Shoulder Arthroscopy Course on behalf of the NHS Education of Scotland (NES) supported by Dundee Institute of Healthcare Simulation (DIHS) and NHS Tayside Orthopaedic Department. 

The Shoulder course ran on 5th May 2021 at DIHS and was approved for 6 CPD points by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Mr. Arpit Jariwala (Consultant Shoulder, Elbow and Trauma Surgeon) led a teaching faculty comprising Mr Douglas Robinson (Consultant Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgeon, NHS Tayside), Mr Luke Reid (Anatomist Tutor, CAHID), Mr Chris Donoghue (Trauma and Orthopaedic Trainee, East of Scotland Deanery), Ms Katie Hoban (Trauma and Orthopaedic Trainee, East of Scotland Deanery) and Mr Gordon Hogg (Skills Facilitator, Surgical Skills). Strict Covid-10 protocols were followed during a day of various shoulder arthroscopy skills.

The morning session saw two lectures on Common Shoulder Pathologies and Diagnostic Scoping Techniques by Mr Arpit Jariwala. After a quick coffee, Mr Jariwala then gave a talk on Complications of Shoulder Arthroscopy.

This was followed by sessions on Applied Shoulder Anatomy using Prosections (Mr Reid, Mr Robinson, Ms Hoban) and Shoulder Arthroscopy Simulation Practice (Mr Jariwala, Mr Donoghue) and then the groups alternated after an hour.

After breaking for a light working lunch, the afternoon session saw delegates divided into pairs for the cadaveric session. This session used Thiel soft-embalmed cadavers offer a more realistic, moveable, and flexible cadaver that better simulates real-life surgery. 

The cadaveric session included practical hands-on participation for Marking Incisions and Portal Making, Diagnostic Scoping, Biceps Tenotomy, and Sub-acromial Space Visualisation (Mr Jariwala, Mr Robinson, Mr Donoghue, and Ms Hoban).

Mr Jariwala stated:

“ I am really very pleased that my thought of combining various learning methods of Applied Anatomy, Simulation and Hands-on Cadaveric Arthroscopy for Core Trainees was well appreciated not only by the participants but also hugely by the faculty who supported me for this pilot project. I’d like to thank all my NHS colleagues and Trainees for giving their time and lending their expertise to this arthroscopy skills course. I would also like to thank Mr Luke Reid for his brilliant teaching on anatomy models and prosections. I’d also like to thank CAHID for the cadavers and prosections and Dr Vanessa Kay, Director DIHS and the DIHS staff for organising the course and for the use of facilities for this NES course.” 

Professor Kenneth Walker, in his capacity as Associate Postgrad Dean (IST Simulation Lead), NES, stated:

“It’s vital to the Improving Surgical training pilot that we have high-quality simulation-based training in year 2 that is specific to the specialties, and the faculty of this course certainly provided that. The feedback was outstanding, and we will be asking for it again next year please.”

DELEGATE FEEDBACK

“Absolutely amazing course. Our knowledge and skills were built up throughout the day very effectively. The faculty was absolutely incredible. Resources as well were excellent.”

“Empowering training environment.”

“Faculty was outstanding. So patient, understanding and encouraging. Arthroscopy learning resources were amazing. I feel we were able to make the most out of the cadaver arthroscopy by developing skills to use it beforehand with the simulator.”

“Faculty - absolutely top-notch faculty, very encouraging and approachable.”

FEEDBACK FROM THE SURVEY