Innovation in Delivering a Live, Virtual Cadaver Dissection Course.

Abstract

The availability of advanced telecommunication technology and the social restrictions introduced by a global pandemic have compelled the medical community to explore new avenues of surgical education. Although cadaver courses have long been a fundamental method for learning surgical anatomy and improving operative preparedness, the COVID-19 pandemic has made traditional dissections less practical. The need for quality virtual learning experiences motivated the authors to design and assess the feasibility of organizing a live, virtual upper extremity peripheral nerve cadaver dissection course. Three phases were critical when developing the course: preplanning, planning, and execution. The success of the live, virtual cadaver dissection depended not only on a detailed curriculum, but the technological audio-video-internet needs to effectively communicate and interact with the viewers. Virtual learning mitigates the risks of in-person dissection courses during a global pandemic and can be enhanced with interactive media (e.g., illustrations and schematics) to augment learning experiences.