A Delphi consensus study to identify current clinically most valuable orthopaedic anatomy components for teaching...

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Anatomy
• Medical Education
• Clinical Practice

Background:

• Medical curricula face reduced anatomy teaching hours, impacting foundational clinical knowledge.
• Ensuring sufficient anatomical knowledge for safe orthopaedic practice remains a challenge.
• Essential anatomy components are needed to reinforce current teaching.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify clinically most valuable orthopaedic anatomy components.
• Align anatomy education with current clinical practice needs.
• Inform curriculum development for medical students.

Main Methods:

• Modified Delphi technique with orthopaedic consultants and registrars.
• Three rounds of expert opinion gathering and consensus building.
• Four-point Likert scale rating for clinical importance (consensus >94%).

Main Results:

• Thirty-four essential anatomy components identified after three Delphi rounds.
• Components cover general/specific clinical conditions and tests.
• High expert agreement achieved on clinically valuable anatomy.

Conclusions:

• Clinician-validated essential anatomical knowledge for graduating medical students in orthopaedics.
• Findings support curriculum development to meet evolving healthcare demands.
• Reinforces the critical role of anatomy in safe and competent clinical encounters.