Preparation of Soft Embalmed Cadavers by the Modified Thiel Embalming Technique for Surgical Skill Training and Development of a Universal Quantitative Scoring System to Assess the Suitability of Soft Embalmed Cadavers for Such Training Purposes

Abstract

BackgroundCadaver dissection plays an important role in learning anatomy. A surgeon must have a thorough knowledge of anatomy of the operating region to perform safe surgery. Skill laboratories give opportunities to surgeons to practice on cadavers before venturing onto real patients. The most common method of cadaver preservation is through formalin fixation. In the process of fixation, formalin destroys the tissue characteristics and also has issues such as smell, eye irritation, hardening of tissue, and risk of carcinogenesis. The Thiel embalming technique and its modifications were developed to address those issues. Our primary objective was to find the benefits of soft embalmed cadavers over formalin-fixed bodies and, secondly, to find out microbial flora in soft embalmed cadavers. Study designThis is a basic study. MethodsFour cadavers were prepared for the soft embalming purpose for our workshop for surgeons on spine fixation. Due to unavailability, we replaced 4-chloro-3-methylphenol 1% with phenol 1%. The bodies were preserved in refrigerators at 4 °C before being used for the workshop purpose. The delegates and faculties were given a questionnaire to assess their experience of the cadavers in terms of odor, irritation, tissue characteristics, joint mobility, and imaging characteristics. The results were calculated using statistical analysis. Swabs were taken from a few of the cadavers for culture to find the organisms.