Tips for M1 (going on M2) working/shadowing in OR (mainly Ortho)

[JustSomePreMed]

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I know there are similar threads to this out there, but I think my situation is different than all the premed "I'm gonna shadow an orthopod" threads. I'm between M1 and M2, doing clinical ortho research and spending 10-15 hours/week in the OR with the ortho docs. They primarily do trauma. Besides scrubbing in/staying sterile, do you guys have any tips as to what I should be expected to know/do? I've already been in on one case, and I tried asking one or two questions here and there, but it was a diffcult case and the attending was very flustered most of the time so I figured it wasn't the best case to turn into a teaching case or anything, at least not for a lowly pre-clinical med student.

But I do want to make a good impression here and broadcast my interest in the field. I just find it a difficult balance - at least here in the beginning - between showing my interest and being annoying to/getting in the way of the attending/residents.

I'm up for some light reading if there are resources out there that'd help me, whether it's about being in the OR in general, or whether something like a primer on orthopedic surgery (or maybe just surgery in general) exists or something. Any help is appreciated!

 

[indo]

Anatomy. That's about it.

 

[MSmentor018]

skip the OR and hit the clinic. learn about the usual clinic stuff, disease disorders, reductions, common injuries....etc. and ask questions about them. smart questions... so it shows you've been reading. don't get too involved, show interest but make contacts so you can rotate with them in the future.

most of all, enjoy your vacation. it's your last one!

 

[ZagDoc]

Did something similar between M1 and M2 myself, though in CT not ortho. Four main things I came away with:
(1) As a pre-M2, nobody really expects you to know anything. You don't have to worry about looking good by knowing the answers to pimp questions. A genuine curiosity and well thought out questions will get you the good review you're looking for.

(2) If you have the opportunity to bum around with an M4 on rotation, do it. They're less hammered than the attendings and residents and still remember what it was like to be in your shoes, so they are more willing to teach you.

(3) Learn how to scrub. If you think you know how to scrub, ask a scrub nurse to watch you and let you know if you mess up. Thats the single "best" skill you can get hammered down.

(4) Don't scrub on every case. Take a couple cases and spend time talking to the anesthesiologist, etc. Ask why they're giving specific drugs at specific times (but wait until they're done until you do it - anesthesiologists have a lot of down time in the OR if its not a difficult case and love talking to students, but when they need to work, they need to do it now). If you see a machine being used that you don't understand what its for or how it works (like the cell saver), ask. Don't worry if the person is a tech, nurse, PA, or MD. Find out how bypass works, etc. These will probably be pimp questions once you're on rotation, and its great info that isn't in textbooks. Scrub experience and getting to throw a few sutures or put in a screw is great, but once you've done it a few times you've probably learned all you need to and attendings are generally too focused on cases to do any real teaching in the OR.

 

[Poupart]

I did a similar thing during my MI-MII summer in vascular surgery. I think the only thing you're expected to know is anatomy, make sure you know it cold. I think that and being enthusiastic and interested is all you need. I always tried to come up with one intelligent question in my head so that when the inevitable "Do you have any questions?" comes up at the end of the case, you have something worthwhile to ask. Most of the time, I'd try to be quiet unless they engage you in conversation. They should all be pretty nice to you considering they know you're there on your free time. Ortho guys are all pretty cool, that helps too.

 

[roadwarrior17]

For the most part I agree with the advice that the previous posters have given. Anatomy is far and away the most important thing. I am interested in orthopaedics and am just starting my fourth year. I would recommend taking a look at "Netter's Concise Atlas of Orthopaedic Anatomy." It's the smaller blue book and is a great anatomy review geared toward ortho. Also if you want to buy a reference to use over the next three years, I would recommend Miller's "Review of Orthopaedics." The books covers more than you need to know but it may help you look like an all-star.