Academia Anatomica International

Plastination Technique and Its Impact on Medical Education

Amit Kumar Pal, Ujwala Bhanarkar, Biswabina Ray — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Plastination has been one of the most effective preservative methods for organic tissue during the last four decades. In this technique, water and lipid content present within biological tissue samples are substituted by polymers (silicone, epoxy, polyester), resulting in dry, durable, and odourless specimens. Plastinated specimens are now used as teaching tools and various medical disciplines, such as anatomy, pathology, radiology, surgery, and so on across the world. Since its development by Gunther von Hagens in 1977, plastination is getting increasing acceptance by the day and proving itself to be an excellent resource material for both teaching and learning. This review highlights the origin, procedure, types, significance, and drawbacks of plastination along with its ethical aspects.

Morphological Patterns of Traumatic Head Injury in Medicolegal Autopsies at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar ES Salaam Tanzania

Oscar Ottoman, Amos R Mwakigonja, Peter F. Rambau — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Head injury is predicted to surpass many diseases as a major cause of death and disability by the year 2020. There is a limited documentations on morphological patterns of traumatic Head Injury and its prevalence specifically in Medical legal Autopsy in Tanzania population. The aim of this study was to determine the morphological patterns of Traumatic Head Injury (TBI) in Medical legal autopsies seen at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH). Subjects and Methods: This was a hospital based cross-sectional study conducted at MNH mortuary. The postmortem examination was performed under Virchow method on 170 cases of TBI in which morphological patterns of TBI was recorded. Proportional of TBI frequencies on various morphological patterns in medical legal autopsies were recorded. Association between cause of death and etiology of TBI were established by Fisher-exact test. Results: The proportion of TBI among the medico-legal autopsy at MNH was 38.5%. All cases of TBI had scalp abrasion, and the majority had linear fracture 67(39.3%) and the commonest the parietal bone was commonly affected 85(55.6%). In closed TBI, majority had subarachnoid hemorrhage130 (84.9%). All cases of TBI had brain edema, with one coincidental finding of metastatic adenocarcinoma. A total of 42 cases of TBI had brain herniation, 51 brain laceration and 52, had brain contusion. The association between etiology of injury, wearing helmets among motor cycle user and cause of death was statistically significance (p<0.05). Conclusion: The higher proportion of TBI among medicolegal autopsies at MNH reflects the burden of head injury in our settings.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Early Clinical Exposure Program in Learning Clinical Anatomy among Medical Undergraduates

Vijisha Phalgunan, S. Baskaran — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Early clinical exposure (ECE) is viewed as a way to provide contexts of basic science and highlight its relevance to medical practice. It is one of the measures taken by Medical Council of India to enact its vision 2015. ECE promotes self – directed learning and analytical skills in students when they are exposed to it at an earlier phase. Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted among volunteered participants of first year medical undergraduate during their regular ECE sessions in the department of Anatomy at Sri Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences, Puducherry after the approval of Instituitional Ethical Committee. The ECE program was used as a supplement to the traditional lectures. Feedback questionnaire after getting validated by the faculty were filled by the students. Results: Statistical analysis was done by Students Paired T-Test. The Pre-Test score was (44.5+_16.1) and the Post -Test Score was (53.1+_14.54). The P- value obtained was 0.0009 which was extremely significant. The results demonstrated that the ECE program will definetly influence the analytical understanding aspects along with getting accustomed to the hospital environment for the students. On a longer run it will have major impact on the academic as well on the attitudinal aspect of students. Conclusion: Medical students found their first experience with clinical setting valuable. Providing clinical exposure in the initial years of medical curricula and teaching the application of basic sciences knowledge in clinical practice can enhance students’ understanding of the role they will play in the future as a physician.