Effectiveness of Plastinated Anatomical Specimens Depicting Common Sports Injuries to Enhance Musculoskeletal Injury Evaluation Education

Abstract

ContextPlastination techniques have emerged as effective methods for preserving human tissue and enabling human specimens to be utilized in a fashion similar to anatomical models with much greater accuracy. Opportunities to observe and experience human specimens in classroom settings should be beneficial to undergraduate and graduate students in health professions such as athletic training since understanding the spatial orientation of anatomical structures is critical for learning palpation skills and diagnostic tests.ObjectiveTo assess the perceived value of a unique series of plastinated specimens depicting common sport injuries in enhancing musculoskeletal injury evaluation education.DesignSurvey study.SettingWe collected data via a questionnaire in the classroom setting.Patients or Other ParticipantsUndergraduate students, graduate students, and certified athletic trainers.Intervention(s)Dissected specimens were plastinated following standard room temperature plastination methods. We used a Likert scale questionnaire to evaluate the usefulness of the plastinated specimens for conveying associated learning issues. Participants completed the questionnaire following a didactic presentation of injury mechanism, symptoms, and diagnostic clinical testing while utilizing the plastinated specimens.Main Outcome Measure(s)Perceived usability and the need for plastinated injury model use by students and certified athletic trainers.ResultsWe found that plastinated injury models were perceived by a majority of the participants as being useful and needed for learning anatomy 3-dimensionally (98.6%), developing palpation skills (94.6%), and enhancing the concept of diagnostic testing used in injury assessment (95.9%).ConclusionsPlastination of human specimens is a unique and effective approach that provides students with a learning experience not available through other instructional delivery systems. The ability to practice injury evaluation techniques, especially palpation skills, while using actual anatomical structures provides students with superior learning experiences and should be made more widely available in classroom settings.