Practice Makes Perfect: Using Soft-Embalmed Cadavers as a Teaching Model for Hip Reduction

Mastery of hip reduction techniques is a critical skill for emergency medicine physicians and orthopaedic surgeons. Resident physicians often face challenges in acquiring necessary hands-on experience with this procedure, with limited or variable exposure in the clinical learning environment. Soft-embalmed cadavers have unique properties that maintain joint range of motion and may provide an innovative model for training hip reduction techniques in a simulated environment. This project sought to assess the feasibility and physical resemblance of soft-embalmed cadavers as a novel hip dislocation-reduction model.

The model was created using 2 soft-embalmed cadavers. An orthopaedic surgeon conducted a dissection of the femoroacetabular joint to facilitate repeated dislocations and reductions without compromising the model's integrity. This model was tested by a multidisciplinary group of subject matter experts (SMEs) including 6 physicians specializing in emergency medicine, sports medicine, and orthopaedic surgery who performed hip reductions on the cadaveric model. The experts then completed a survey to assess physical resemblance and utility of the cadaveric model for teaching hip reductions.

All SMEs noted near-complete realism regarding the model's anatomy and range of motion. For replicating a hip dislocation, 83% of SMEs stated the model was realistic. While 66% of SMEs stated the cadaver gave a realistic representation of a hip reduction, only 33% reported the cadaver was able to simulate forces of a real patient. Overall, 66% of SMEs expressed a strong inclination to use this model for teaching learners.

In sum, soft-embalmed cadavers are a feasible model for hip reduction training, limited in their ability to simulate forces required for reduction. In the absence of other available simulators, they may provide learning opportunities for training hip reduction and have potential as a training model for other orthopaedic procedures.