Core Arthroscopic Knee Skills Course at Dundee

Mr Stephen Dalgleish (Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, NHS Tayside) along with Mr Arpit Jariwala (Director UDOTS) organised an Improving Surgical Training (IST) Knee Arthroscopy Course on behalf of NHS Education of Scotland (NES) supported by Dundee Institute of Healthcare Simulation (DIHS) and NHS Tayside Orthopaedic Department.

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

Mr Stephen Dalgleish (Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, NHS Tayside) led a teaching faculty comprising of Mr Rahul Kakar (Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, NHS Tayside), Mr Luke Reid (Anatomist Tutor, CAHID), Mr Pete Hutchinson (Trauma and Orthopaedic Trainee, East of Scotland Deanery), Mr Ewan Semple (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 Knee Pathologies and Diagnostic Scoping Techniques by Mr Dalgleish and Mr Kakar. After a quick coffee, Mr Hogg then gave a talk and presentation on Knee Instrumentation and Power Tools.

This was followed by sessions on Surface and Arthroscopic Knee Anatomy using Prosections (Mr Reid, Mr Dalgleish, Mr Semple) and Knee Arthroscopy Simulation Practice (Mr Kakar, Mr Hutchinson) with both groups alternating topics 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, Knee Meniscectomy, Chondroplasty, and Loose Body Retrieval (Mr Dalgleish, Mr Kakar, Mr Hutchinson, and Mr Semple).

The session ended with an Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction Video and Discussion by Mr Dalgleish.

Mr Stephen Dalgleish stated:

“I am grateful to UDOTS Director, Mr Arpit Jariwala and the Surgical Skills Centre staff for their help and organization, along with my colleagues from the NHS who also helped in making the day such a success. The format of the course, with surgically applied anatomy delivered by an anatomist, simulation with state-of-the-art arthroscopic simulator and hands-on surgical training with full theatre equipment, helps trainees accelerate through their learning curve in a safe environment.

Dr Vanessa Kay, DIHS Co-Director, emphasised:

“As part of the Improving Surgical Training Pilot, Dundee Surgical Skills were proud to deliver the first orthopaedic training courses. These included both shoulder and knee arthroscopy courses and involved the use of virtual reality simulators and cadaveric surgery. The feedback from faculty and trainees was outstanding and highlights the need for this high-quality training, particular in view of the lack of surgical training on patients during the last year in view of the Covid pandemic. We are hopeful that our orthopaedic course portfolio will continue to expand to allow us to meet this increased demand for simulation-based surgical training.”

Mr Rahul Kakar added:

“IST Knee Arthroscopy Workshop at UDOTS was my first workshop as faculty during COVID times. We had some very keen core trainees who were going to start Orthopaedic training in a few months, and some were aspiring to enter in due course. I would like to congratulate Mr Jariwala for organising this using full safety protocols.

We all know that in traditional orthopaedic training that trainees enhance their skills by operating under guidance. However, there has been a reduction in the number of training opportunities due to reduced elective activity during the last year and with the introduction of consultant-led service there has been a significant hit on training opportunities which means that alternative training strategies are required.

Mr Luke Reid further added:

‘”The course was a great opportunity for trainees to revisit and expand their anatomical understanding before applying it to clinical procedures on the Thiel cadaver. All the delegates and faculty were friendly and willing to learn and share experiences.”

DELEGATE FEEDBACK

“Amazing opportunity to learn arthroscopic skills using cadavers and state of the art simulator. Feel very grateful to be invited to this amazing course. Would highly recommend.”

“Confidence to develop basic arthroscopy skills in a very supportive environment.”

“Faculty was absolutely amazing. Supportive, encouraging, knowledgeable and very patient!”

“Developing skills first with the simulator then with progressive challenges on the cadaver. Can’t emphasise enough how amazing a learning opportunity this was.”

“Anatomy teaching was excellent. The Anatomist (Luke) went above and beyond and also gave me excellent teaching for an upcoming exam.”

“The trainee to trainer ratio was outstanding!”

SURVEY FEEDBACK