Demonstrate observe assist perform versus video assisted teaching in teaching deep tendon reflexes to medical students: a comparative study

Background: Clinical examination of Deep tendon reflexes is a skilled technique that should be taught in an interesting way. Newer teaching learning methods like Video assisted teaching can be utilized  to facilitate self-directed and long term learning  and to cultivate enhanced interest in the study.Method: Among 120 students are divided into 6 groups.  Each group is divided into two batches of 10 members each. 6 batches are taught deep tendon reflexes separately by DOAP.  6 batches are taught deep tendon reflexes separately by video assisted teaching. At the end of teaching and 2 weeks later, each batch is  assessed by OSCE . Objective Structured Clinical Examination checklist marks are systematically entered in an excel sheet and was analysed using unpaired t-test .The perception to each teaching learning method was assessed by feedback Questionnaire using  Likert Scale.Results: On comparing between the effectiveness of video assisted teaching and clinical demonstration of the examination of deep tendon reflexes , students taught by video assisted teaching scored higher marks in the evaluation after two weeks, which was statistically significant. Regarding perception, students favoured both teaching methods for their effectiveness. For clarifying doubts, students favoured DOAP method. For reproducibility and better retaining of memory, students favoured video assisted teaching.Conclusion: Video assisted teaching was equally effective as DOAP in teaching deep tendon reflexes to medical students. For reproducibility and better retaining of memory, Video assisted teaching was perceived better as reflected in the better mean scores two weeks after the teaching sessions.

Clinical Features of Adie's Tonic Pupil: A Retrospective and Cross-Sectional Study

PURPOSE: To report the clinical features of Adie's tonic pupil. METHODS: The medical records of 22 patients who had been diagnosed with Adie's tonic pupil from February 1998 to February 2009, were retrospectively reviewed. On March 2010, a cross-sectional examination was performed in 16 patients (19 eyes) who underwent a follow-up of more than 1 year. Measurements included pupil size in room light, bright light and in darkness; near point of accommodation; presence of segmental iris palsy; light-near dissociation; denervation supersensitivity; corneal sensitivity; and deep tendon reflex (DTR). RESULTS: Among the patients studied, 16 were women in Adie's tonic pupils. Only 3 of patients had bilateral involvement. The mean age of onset was 38.3 years. The mean size of Adie's tonic pupils was 2.3 mm larger than the fellow eyes. Segmental iris palsy was detected in 93.8% of the patients. Denervation supersensitivity was observed in all patients. Light-near dissociation was present in 88.2% and over 90% of the patients had decreased DTR in the biceps, triceps, knee and ankle jerk. CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional study showed Adie's tonic pupil tended to become miotic and recover accommodation power over the years.

Clinical Implication of Long-Standing Delayed Plantar Reflex after Spinal Cord Injury: Case report

When recovery of specific reflexes after acute spinal cord injury are delayed or absent, we should consider an acute local complication or other factors that influence reflex function. We observed three spinal cord injury cases with a long-standing delayed plantar reflex and no evolution of Babinski sign despite enough recovery time had passed for the flexor spasm and all deep tendon reflexes of the lower extremities. In these cases we confirmed common peroneal nerve neuropathy at the fibular head by the nerve conduction study and electromyography. Long-standing delayed plantar reflex without evolution of Babinski sign, beyond expected recovery period, would be considered as a sign of local complication such as common peroneal nerve injury.