SCAM21003U Companion Animal Surgery – Orthopaedics I - Basic Orthopaedic Principles

Volume 2023/2024
Education

This course is a compulsory course at the Master of Companion Animal Clinical Science. The Master is a postgraduate education targeting small animal veterinarians seeking Continual Professional Development (CPD).

Content

The purpose of this course is to extend the student’s knowledge, skills, and competences in the basic principles of, approach to, assessment, diagnostic tools and management of the lame companion animal patient in need of orthopaedic examination, diagnostic work up and surgery. The course will extend the students assessment and management of the lame companion animal patient and plan the perioperative management of the patient including special anaesthesia and analgesia requirements.

Learning Outcome

Having completed the course, the student must be able to:

Knowledge

  • Understand the aetiology, pathophysiology and clinical appearance of surgical disorders of the musculoskeletal system resulting in lameness including inflammatory and non-inflammatory joint disease, osteochondrosis, and primary bone disorders.
  • Understand the influence of surgical disorders of the musculoskeletal system on the selection of anaesthesia and analgesia protocols.
  • Use and continue to develop common and typical techniques in musculoskeletal disease with focus on acute symptom relief incl. the approach to the patient requiring bandaging-immobilisation techniques, orthotics and prosthetics.
  • Explain, reflect on, and discuss a problem-oriented and evidence-based work-up and treatment plan for patients with lameness originating in the musculoskeletal system.
  • Define and identify relevant anatomical structures

 

Skills

  • Perform atraumatic surgical techniques in particular with regards to tissue handling and minimal invasive diagnostics in regard to disorders of the musculoskeletal system including;
    • orthopaedic assessment of the lame patient using paraclinical methods, different 2D-and 3D imaging modalities and gait analysis.
    • orthopaedic assessment of the patient with lameness, focusing on acute symptom relief incl. using bandaging-immobilisation techniques.
  • Perform common approaches to the thoracic limb (humerus, radius, shoulder, elbow and carpus)
  • Perform common surgical approaches to the pelvic limb (femur, tibia, hip, stifle and tarsus)
  • Perform open surgical management of osteochondrosis in commonly affected joints.
  • Limb amputation for management of primary bone tumours in companion animals
  • Risk assessment after surgery with focus on treatment effect, complications and estimation of prognosis.

 

Competences

  • Evaluate, plan and manage a diagnostic work-up for a patient with a complex history within companion animal orthopaedics.
  • Plan therapy/procedures for companion animal orthopaedic surgery patients.
  • Independently obtain, evaluate and elaborate on evidence based new knowledge within companion animal orthopaedic surgery.
  • Collaborate and communicate within and between specialist and non-specialist peers and laypersons involved in companion animal orthopaedic surgical patient management.

Updated literature lists will be posted 1 month prior to course start. The participant should have theoretical knowledge updated prior to participation.

Inclusion criteria for Master's Programme in Companion Animal Clinical Science: Degree in veterinary medicine and at least two years of relevant work experience.

Progression requirements:
SCAM13001U Veterinary Methodology and Paraclinical Skills
SCAM21001U Companion Animal Surgery - Good Surgical Practice (GSP)
SCAM21002U Companion Animal Surgery – Soft Tissue Surgery I
A mixture of case-based and problem oriented lectures, e-learning, theoretical and practical exercises. Case-study work. Scientific literature.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 20
  • Preparation
  • 96
  • Practical exercises
  • 15
  • Exam
  • 50
  • Total
  • 181
Oral
Individual
Collective
Credit
5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Type of assessment details
The portfolio exam consists of two parts.

1) The course certificate, which supports, underpins, and focuses on the learning process (learning portfolio). All required components of the course certificate must be approved and include a) a minimum of 80% active participation, b) preparation and plenary discussion of theoretical clinical cases, c) an objective structured assessment of technical skills (OSATS) and, d) a written assignment.

2) A graded evaluation, which focuses on the intended learning outcomes (evaluation portfolio). The graded evaluation includes an exam with multiple-choice, short answer, and/or essay questions.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Exam period

Exam dates will be published on the programme  homepage.

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the maximum grade of 12, the student shall be able to:

 

Knowledge

  • Understand the aetiology, pathophysiology and clinical appearance of surgical disorders of the musculoskeletal system resulting in lameness including inflammatory and non-inflammatory joint disease, osteochondrosis, and primary bone disorders.
  • Understand the influence of surgical disorders of the musculoskeletal system on the selection of anaesthesia and analgesia protocols.
  • Use and continue to develop common and typical techniques in musculoskeletal disease with focus on acute symptom relief incl. the approach to the patient requiring bandaging-immobilisation techniques, orthotics and prosthetics.
  • Explain, reflect on, and discuss a problem-oriented and evidence-based work-up and treatment plan for patients with lameness originating in the musculoskeletal system.
  • Define and identify relevant anatomical structures

 

Skills

  • Perform atraumatic surgical techniques in particular with regards to tissue handling and minimal invasive diagnostics in regard to disorders of the musculoskeletal system including;
    • orthopaedic assessment of the lame patient using paraclinical methods,different 2D-and 3D imaging modalities and gait analysis.
    • orthopaedic assessmentof the patient with lameness, focusing on acute symptom relief incl. using bandaging-immobilisation techniques.
  • Perform common approaches to the thoracic limb (humerus, radius, shoulder, elbow and carpus)
  • Perform common surgical approaches to the pelvic limb (femur, tibia, hip, stifle and tarsus)
  • Perform open surgical management of osteochondrosis in commonly affected joints.
  • Limb amputation for management of primary bone tumours in companion animals
  • Risk assessment after surgery with focus on treatment effect, complications and estimation of prognosis.

 

Competences

  • Evaluate, plan and manage a diagnostic work-up for a patient with a complex history within companion animal orthopaedics.
  • Plan therapy/procedures for companion animal orthopaedic surgery patients.
  • Independently obtain, evaluate and elaborate on evidence based new knowledge within companion animal orthopaedic surgery.
  • Collaborate and communicate within and between specialist and non-specialist peers and laypersons involved in companion animal orthopaedic surgical patient management.