The Role of Technology in Anatomy Teaching: Striking the Right Balance.

BACKGROUND: This study assesses the scope for using technology to supplement the undergraduate anatomy curriculum at medical school. METHODS: A narrative literature review explored the current landscape of anatomy learning. Medical student usage and preferences of technological interventions for anatomy learning were then explored through a cross-sectional survey. RESULTS: The literature review revealed the current teaching strategies for anatomy learning, exploring recent multimedia innovations. The survey demonstrated that technology usage was ubiquitous among medical students with 98% of medical students owning smartphones. Medical education apps were used by 64.3% of medical students, with 61.9% of these apps covering anatomy, and 60.4% of students preferring traditional cadaveric teaching to other technological interventions. CONCLUSION: Novel technological innovations present the opportunity to deliver accessible and standardised teaching of anatomy to medical students. Many students already use smartphone applications as part of their anatomy learning. Uptake of smartphones and other devices provides opportunities to reach larger target audiences. However, traditional cadaveric teaching remains the learning resource of choice for medical students, and technological interventions are best designed as adjuncts or supplements to cadaveric teaching.

Application of the pinwheel flap for closure of a large defect of the scalp.

A 74-year-old man had a resultant large oval scalp defect of 12×6 cm (72 cm2) following an excision of a stage IIIA melanoma. We decided to cover the defect with the pinwheel flap, with the aim to provide a good cosmetic result, preservation of hair follicles and minimal donor-site morbidity. This local flap has been traditionally used for much smaller defects. Four L-shaped flaps were designed at equal distances on the vertical and horizontal axes of the defect. The L-shaped flap had a length of 1.5 times the half diameter of the defect (4.5 cm). The incision was made through galea aponeurosis and subsequently undermined at least 3 cm to assist flap advancement. Z-plasties increased the rotation of the flap when it was required. This yielded an excellent reconstructive result at 1-year follow-up, demonstrating the usefulness of the pinwheel flap in large defects on the scalp region.