Purpose: Medical institutions in India have employed different periodic formative assessment (FA) methods with variable impact. The formative evaluation must incorporate feedback to improve learning. Formative assessment has helped inexperienced students apprehend their weaknesses, make choices, prepare for summative exams, and allow teachers to identify regions wherein students may also need aid.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Ligament flavum (LF) hypertropy is the main etiopathogenesis of lumbar canal stenosis (LCS). The purely elastic LF undergoes a morphological adaptation including a reduction in the elastic fibers and a consequent increase in the collagen content, fibrosis, cicatrization, and calcification. However, the morphometric analysis can delineate the LF in patients with LCS from those without LCS, which would help in better understanding LCS pathogenesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present study attempted to validate the "Burcev freehand method" based on anatomical observations in Indian cadavers. The study was conducted on 32 cervical pedicle screws (CPSs) that were placed in four cadavers by the authors according to the "freehand technique," described by Burcev et al, without the aid of fluoroscopy and the trajectory verified by computed tomography scans. The screws were designated as satisfactory, permissible, or unacceptable.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The spotter's (objectively structured practical examination) is an assessment tool which is widely used to test the practical knowledge of anatomy extensively. In Indian context it is used as an inclusive model in the gross anatomy practical examination and the marks allotted to it varies. The traditional spotter examination often has been blamed for only incorporating the initial levels of revised Bloom's taxonomy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPostoperative cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a known rare complication following lumbar disc surgery. Seldom are they seen following decompression for spinal stenosis and may be actually more frequent and under-reported? Emergent surgical exploration remains the mainstay of management as the factors responsible for postop CES remains a variety of compressive forces. Yet many a time postoperative imaging or surgical exploration fails to identify a pathology and this leads to an ischaemic theory responsible for CES.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFracture humerus may be associated with nerve injuries. However, among them median nerve is uncommonly involved and clinical affection of the anterior branch of median nerve is rare which can be easily missed and could be under-reported. A 42-year-old man presented with closed fracture of shaft of humerus right sided following fall.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF