OBJECTIVES: Implants for traumatic orthopedic injuries are costly, and usually borne by the patient. We determined whether a consignment policy decreases morbidity and mortality rates, decreases length of stay, and decreases total expenditure of our patients. METHODS: This is an ambispective cohort study comparing patients whose orthopedic implant surgeries were done before consignment policy and thus paid for out-of-pocket (Group A), and patients whose surgeries were done under the policy, and whose implants were paid for by hospital funding (Group B). Patient records and hospital bills were reviewed. A total of 206 patients were included in the study, and we gathered data from department and hospital records regarding the incidence of morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and total hospital expenditure. RESULTS: In this study, we demonstrate no difference in the incidence of morbidities and mortalities between the two groups. There was also no significant difference in the total hospital expenditure of both. There is a slightly shorter preoperative stay, and significantly longer postoperative and total hospital stays for Group B patients. CONCLUSION The consignment policy, in its first year of implementation, demonstrated no difference in the incidence of morbidity and mortality, or total hospital expenditures. Further long-term studies may be undertaken to improve accuracy of results.

INTRODUCTION: The latissimus dorsi muscle has been the “workhorse” of reconstructive surgery because of its predictable neurovascular anatomy and ability to perform both wound coverage and restoration of function. OBJECTIVES: We determined the flap viability, complications, and muscle function (if used as muscle transfer) of our latissimus dorsi flaps for orthopedic reconstruction. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of all cases done in the Microsurgery Unit of the Philippine General Hospital and The Medical City from January 2005 to present using the latissimus dorsi muscle for reconstructive surgery. All patients were followed-up for six months. RESULTS: There were 14 patients who had reconstructive surgeries using the latissimus dorsi muscle. Three patients had traumatic brachial plexus injuries where the latissimus dorsi muscle was used for the reconstruction of elbow flexion. Eleven patients required coverage of a large defect, where seven were secondary to tumor resection and four were secondary to trauma. Of the fourteen patients, nine were pedicled flaps and five were free flaps. We had one failure (free flap group/tumor resection). The rest of the flaps survived completely. The smallest flap was 10 x 8 cm, and the largest flap was 28 x 24 cm. CONCLUSION The latissimus dorsi muscle remains to be a versatile muscle in the field of orthopedic reconstructive surgery.

Background: In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and a country-wide lockdown, the University of the Philippines College of Medicine halted face-to-face teaching in exchange for online learning for its students. For the Learning Unit VI students, clinical rotations shifted to hybrid activities to continue learning activities while minimizing exposure risk. The Philippine General Hospital Department of Orthopedics introduced the following hybrid activities in its curriculum for Learning Unit VI students: 1) Online Lectures, 2) Online Departmental Conference, 3) Online Division Rounds, 4) Online SGDs, 5) Written Case, 6) Online Exams, 7) Preceptorship, Demo, Return Demo, and 8) Online OSCE. The department used a variety of platforms including synchronous sessions, asynchronous pre-recorded lectures, and face-to-face teaching, as appropriate. Objectives: The study compared the faculty and student course evaluations of activities in the hybrid ORTHO 251 course. Methodology: Faculty and students were asked to evaluate each activity according to the Course Evaluation By Students (CEBS), the standard questionnaire used by the college, to determine the overall rating of each activity as well as any differences between the two groups. Results: The hybrid activities conducted in the ORTHO 251 course were rated as good or excellent by the faculty and students, with differences in a few activities. Consultants rated online exams as being less effectively integrated and that there was inadequate time allotment for online SGDs, written cases, and online exams. Meanwhile, students rated all activities higher in terms of stimulating self-directed learning. Conclusion With good to excellent outcomes, this study found that it has at least satisfactorily matched the learning platform to the learning component. While knowledge may be taught via asynchronous recorded lectures or reading materials, attitude and thinking processes are better formed through synchronous discussion. Skills in medical education, including Orthopedics, are still best taught via face-to-face demoreturn demo. With this information, the department can investigate the causes of these differences and improve on the identified weaknesses.
Orthopedics

Background: In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and a country-wide lockdown, the University of the Philippines College of Medicine halted face-to-face teaching in exchange for online learning for its students. For the Learning Unit VI students, clinical rotations shifted to hybrid activities to continue learning activities while minimizing exposure risk. The Philippine General Hospital Department of Orthopedics introduced the following hybrid activities in its curriculum for Learning Unit VI students: 1) Online Lectures, 2) Online Departmental Conference, 3) Online Division Rounds, 4) Online SGDs, 5) Written Case, 6) Online Exams, 7) Preceptorship, Demo, Return Demo, and 8) Online OSCE. The department used a variety of platforms including synchronous sessions, asynchronous pre-recorded lectures, and face-to-face teaching, as appropriate. Objectives: The study compared the faculty and student course evaluations of activities in the hybrid ORTHO 251 course. Methodology: Faculty and students were asked to evaluate each activity according to the Course Evaluation By Students (CEBS), the standard questionnaire used by the college, to determine the overall rating of each activity as well as any differences between the two groups. Results: The hybrid activities conducted in the ORTHO 251 course were rated as good or excellent by the faculty and students, with differences in a few activities. Consultants rated online exams as being less effectively integrated and that there was inadequate time allotment for online SGDs, written cases, and online exams. Meanwhile, students rated all activities higher in terms of stimulating self-directed learning. Conclusion With good to excellent outcomes, this study found that it has at least satisfactorily matched the learning platform to the learning component. While knowledge may be taught via asynchronous recorded lectures or reading materials, attitude and thinking processes are better formed through synchronous discussion. Skills in medical education, including Orthopedics, are still best taught via face-to-face demoreturn demo. With this information, the department can investigate the causes of these differences and improve on the identified weaknesses.
Orthopedics ; Education, Distance ; Education, Medical

Introduction: Rotator cuff tears are one of the common etiologies of shoulder pain. Rotator cuff repair is recommended for a patient who failed conservative treatment. Proper knowledge of the rotator cuff footprint is needed in restoring correct anatomy during the repair. The size of the footprint is important in determining the kind of repair. Objective: This study aimed to define the average measurements of the rotator cuff footprint on the humerus in Filipino cadavers. Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study of preserved human cadaver upper extremity specimens. We measured the length, width, and shape of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor. Results: We obtained 27 upper extremity specimens. The median age of the source cadavers was 50.5 years with the equal male-to-female distribution. The mean measurement of the supraspinatus is 22.92 mm in length and 10.17 mm in width. The shape of the supraspinatus was found to be trapezoidal. The infraspinatus length was found to be 17.20 mm and the width at 10.72 mm. Its shape was found to be trapezoidal. The teres minor length was measured at 15.15 mm and the width at 11.04 mm. The shape was mostly trapezoidal but some were triangular. Finally, the subscapularis length was 17.68 mm while the width was 11.26 mm. The shape was trapezoidal or comma-shaped. Conclusion The average measurement of the rotator cuff footprint was found to be smaller in our study than reported in terms of length and width. The footprint shape was similar to the studies reported.
Rotator Cuff