Translating basic sciences into a clinical framework has been approached through the implementation of various teaching techniques aimed at using a patient case scenario to facilitate learning. These techniques present students with a specific patient case and lead the students to discuss physiological processes through analysis of provided data supported by independent learning and research. However, no literature exists that describes a reverse teaching methodology in which students are given disease diagnosis and then asked to construct a patient case. This article discusses an explorative learning approach introduced in the gross anatomy course in which students were asked to use clinical skills and reasoning to create a patient case. The online knowledge-sharing portal utilizing MediaWiki provided a necessary base for students in completing their task. Teams were given 4 weeks to complete their written online project with weekly feedback provided by 3rd year teaching assistants using the Wiki discussion page. A survey was performed to assess competence regarding a patient write up and oral presentation. Skills that the teams acquired through the completion of this project will benefit future patient interactions. This project also emphasized and reinforced the importance of effective communication, leadership, and teamwork. This study shows that a clinical anatomy project that incorporates explorative learning can be an effective way of introducing students to the skills needed for patient write ups and oral presentations. Furthermore this approach to learning allows students to excel during their clinical years and to correlate anatomy to clinical diagnoses.

Introduction The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to determine if the duration of symptoms influences the features seen in patients with atraumatic full thickness rotator cuff tears. Our hypothesis is that increasing duration of symptoms will correlate with more advanced findings of rotator cuff tear severity on MRI, worse shoulder outcome scores, more pain, decreased range of motion, and less strength. Methods 450 patients with full thickness rotator cuff tears were enrolled in a prospective cohort study to assess the effectiveness of nonoperative treatment and factors predictive of success. Duration of patient symptoms were divided into four groups: ≤3 months, 4–6 months, 7–12 months, and >12 months. Data collected at patient entry into the study included: 1.) Demographic data, 2.) History and physical exam data, 3.) Radiographic imaging data, and 4.) Validated patient reported measures of shoulder status. Statistical analysis included a univariate analysis with Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson tests to identify statistically significant differences in these features for different durations of symptoms Results Longer duration of symptoms does not correlate with more severe rotator cuff disease. Duration of symptoms was not related to weakness; limited range of motion; tear size; fatty atrophy; or validated patient reported outcome measures. Conclusions There is only a weak relationship between the duration of symptoms and features associated with rotator cuff disease. Level of Evidence Level III, Cross Sectional Study

Objectives of this study include identification of lumbosacral venous variations, designation of a critical area of dissection for surgical exposure, and comparison between both male/female and right/left-sided anatomy. Attempts were made to provide anatomic nomenclature that accurately describes these structures. Thirty-eight iliolumbar venous systems in 20 cadavers (11 females/9 males) were dissected. Each system was identified as one of three patterns of variation: common venous trunk (combining ascending lumbar and iliolumbar venous systems) with distal veins, common venous trunk without distal veins, and venous systems without a common venous trunk. Dimensions including distances to the inferior vena cava (IVC) confluence, the obturator nerve, and the lumbosacral trunk, and venous stem length were obtained to aid surgical dissection. Differences between males and females and those between right and left sides were compared. Anterior lumbosacral venous variations could be organized into three groups. A Type 1 venous system (common venous trunk with distal veins) was most common (53% of systems). The anatomical name "lateral lumbosacral veins" adequately describes the anatomical location of these veins and does not assume a direction of venous flow or the lack of individual distal veins. A critical area bordered by the obturator nerve anteriorly, the psoas muscle laterally, the spinal column medially, and sacrum posteriorly within 8.2 cm of the IVC confluence should be defined to adequately dissect the lateral lumbosacral veins. Differences in male and female lateral lumbosacral venous anatomy do not alter surgeon's approach to the anterior lumbar spine.