Course Syllabus Proposal:
Course Title: Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgery Elective
Duration: 2 Weeks
Target Audience: 4th-Year Medical Students Prerequisites: Successful completion of core 3rd-year Clerkship in General Surgery
Location: Hamad General Hospital, Division Orthopedic Surgery
On call: No on call
Course Sponsor: Dr Ali Hallal
Course Evaluators Essential: Dr Jasim Hamad Alsaei, Dr Hasan Azzam Abu Hejleh, Dr Tamam Rais Khan
Course Description
General objective
By the end of this 2-week elective, the Med 4 student will be able to understand lower extremity biomechanics, gait, functional anatomy, and the surgical and non-surgical management of foot and ankle disorders. Students will gain focused clinical and surgical exposure to this highly specialized subspecialty, including multidisciplinary care involving orthopedics, sports medicine, rehabilitation, endocrinology, vascular surgery, and podiatric services.
Specific objectives (core competencies)
Patient Care
- Perform a comprehensive foot and ankle history and physical examination.
- Formulate differential diagnoses for common foot and ankle conditions.
- Participate in perioperative care, including patient selection, surgical decision-making, postoperative protocols, and rehabilitation planning.
- Apply principles of multidisciplinary patient management and postoperative rehabilitation.
Medical Knowledge
- Develop advanced knowledge of foot and ankle anatomy, biomechanics, and gait analysis.
- Describe the evaluation and management of common conditions (e.g., ankle instability, Achilles tendon disorders, plantar fasciitis, hallux valgus, flatfoot/cavovarus deformity, osteoarthritis, and diabetic foot pathology).
- Interpret basic and advanced imaging relevant to foot and ankle pathology (weight-bearing radiographs, CT imaging, and MRI studies).
- Describe indications, contraindications, and expected outcomes of common operative and non-operative treatment strategies.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
- Communicate effectively with patients regarding their diagnoses and treatment plans.
- Collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary healthcare team, including sports medicine, rehabilitation, endocrinology, vascular surgery, and podiatry.
Professionalism
- Demonstrate respect, compassion, and integrity in all interactions with patients presenting with lower extremity complaints.
- Exhibit dedication to continuous learning and professional development in the clinical and surgical environments.
Practice based learning and Improvement
- Enhance musculoskeletal examination skills through focused clinical assessments and gait evaluation.
- Learn principles of operative planning, fixation techniques, deformity correction, arthroscopy, joint-preserving procedures, and arthroplasty.
Systems-Based Practice
- Demonstrate an understanding of how foot and ankle complaints represent a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide.
- Coordinate patient care across multiple specialties to optimize outcomes for complex conditions like diabetic foot complications and severe trauma.
Student Expectations and Responsibilities
Students are expected to actively participate in clinical assessments, gait evaluations, and perioperative care. They will gain exposure to acute trauma management (including ankle, pilon, and calcaneal fractures, Lisfranc injuries, and tendon ruptures) and assist in operative planning and surgical procedures. Students must integrate biomechanics, advanced imaging, and reconstructive surgery principles into their daily practice.
Evaluation and Assessment
Final evaluation will be based on the student's clinical competence, procedural knowledge, and clinical reasoning skills. Assessment criteria include the ability to perform a comprehensive history and physical exam, formulate accurate differential diagnoses, interpret relevant imaging, and actively participate in multidisciplinary patient management and surgical care.
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