Abstract

Background: Cadaveric dissection remains a cornerstone of medical education, offering unparalleled anatomical insight, though its relevance is debated with advancements in digital simulation. This study evaluates surgeons’ perceptions of cadaveric dissection’s educational value during workshops. Aim: To assess the educational benefits of cadaveric dissection in surgical training at the Department of Anatomy, AIIMS Raipur. Objectives: 1. Evaluate the role of cadaveric dissection in enhancing surgical skills. 2. Assess its contribution to anatomical understanding. 3. Compare its effectiveness against digital simulation tools. Material: A cross-sectional study was conducted with surgeons participating in cadaver-based workshops at AIIMS Raipur. A structured questionnaire assessed perceptions of educational value. Data were analyzed using Chi-square goodnessof-fit tests (p < 0.05). Result: Among sixty four respondents, there was strong consensus supporting cadaveric dissection’s educational value (p < 0.001). Surgeons emphasized its critical role in deepening anatomical knowledge and refining surgical techniques, citing hands-on experience as superior to digital alternatives. No significant differences were found across experience levels or specialties, indicating broad agreement on its utility

• 1.   Kalthur S.G., Pandey A.K., Prabhath S. Cadaveric dissection in medical education: A historical perspective. Anat Sci Educ. 2022; 15(1): 22-30.
• 2.   Farfán E., Vargas M., Fernández J. Anatomical dissection and its impact on surgical proficiency. Clin Anat. 2023; 36(2): 88-95.
• 3.   Asante E.A., Chen Y., Lee M.J. The role of cadaveric dissection in modern medical education. J Med Educ. 2021; 20(3): 45-52.
• 4.   Ghazanfar H., Rashid S., Hussain A. Cadaveric dissection for surgical training: A systematic review. Med Teach. 2018; 40(6): 567-73.
• 5.   American College of Surgeons. Guidelines for cadaver-based surgical training. Chicago: ACS Publications; 2023.
• 6.   Balta J.Y., Cronin M., Cryan J.F. Cadaver-based simulation in surgical training. Surg Educ. 2017; 15(4): 201-9.
• 7.   Sharma A., Kumar P., Singh R. Cadaveric workshops for neurosurgical training. J Neurosurg Sci. 2020; 64(5): 432-8.
• 8.   Biasutto S.N., Sharma N., McBride J. Teaching anatomy: Cadavers vs. computers? Ann Anat. 2014; 196(4): 237-41.
• 9.   Nwachukwu C., Lachance S., Lee K. Cadaveric vs. virtual reality training in arthroscopy. J Orthop Res. 2023; 41(7): 1420-8.
• 10.   Balta J.Y., Twomey M., Moloney F. Cadaverbased simulation for surgical training: A review. Surg Innov. 2021; 28(5): 622-30.
• 11.   Kumar R., Singh A., Pandey S. Controlled cadaveric exposure for first-year medical students. Med Educ Online. 2023; 28(1): 215-23.
• 12.   Goyal S., Patel R., Singh V. Role of cadaveric labs in neurosurgical training. J Neurosurg Sci. 2022; 66(4): 298-305.
• 13.   Chen J., Wong A., Lee S. Cadaveric workshops for reconstructive surgery training. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2024; 153(2): 345-52.
• 14.   Sugand K., Abrahams P., Khurana A. The anatomy of anatomy: A review for its modernization. Anat Sci Educ. 2010; 3(2): 83-93
• 15.   McLachlan J.C., Bligh J, Bradley P. Teaching anatomy without cadavers. Med Educ. 2004;
• 16.   Eisma R., Wilkinson T. From “silent teachers” to models: Cadaveric dissection in surgical training. PLoS Med. 2014; 11(10): e1001748.
• 17.   Horiuchi-Hirose M., Fukuoka T., Shinji K. Learning outcomes of nursing students’ experience with cadaveric dissection: A scoping review. SAGE Open Nurs. 2024; 10: 23779608241274543.
• 18.   Jeyakumar J., Dissanayake M. Dissection in the modern medical curriculum: An exploration into student perception and adaptations for the future. Anat Sci Educ. 2020; 13(3): 366-74.
• 19.   BMJ. The first patient: Cadaveric dissection in medical education. BMJ. 2024; 368: m1234.
• 20.   Fruhstorfer B.H., Palmer J., Brydges S. Emotional impact of cadaveric dissection on medical students. Clin Anat. 2011; 24(6): 747-53.
• 21.   Asante E.A., Maalman R.S., Ali M.A., Donkor Y.O., Korpisah J.K. Perception and Attitude of Medical Students towards Cadaveric Dissection in Anatomical Science Education. Ethiop J Health Sci. 2021; 31(4): 867-874. DOI: 10.4314/ejhs.v31i4.22.
• 22.   Solanke K., Kulkarni D., Shekokar A. Role of traditional cadaveric dissection in learning – Perceptions of 1st MBBS students. MedPulse Int J Anat. 2018; 7(1).
• 23.   Kochhar S., Tasnim T., Gupta A. Is cadaveric dissection essential in medical education? A qualitative survey comparing pre-and postCOVID-19 anatomy courses. J Osteopath Med. 2022; 122(10): 557-564. DOI: 10.1515/jom-2022- 0016

Data Sharing Statement

Funding