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Interview > Common questions > Flashcards

Common questions Flashcards

1
Q

Why do you want to do orthopaedics?

A

Variety within the work
Ability to achieve excellent outcomes and patient satisfaction
Skillset aligns with my own abilities
Enjoy collegiate nature

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2
Q

What are three strengths of yours?

A

Organised
Ability to stay calm and perform under pressure
Good teacher
Understand the limitations of my abilities

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3
Q

How would you set up a bone school session (3 key subjects)

A

Topic - gather information, lit review
Find a patient
Consultant

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4
Q

AOA 21 key points

A

Initiative launched 2014 - to improve quality and patient care through world recognised orthopaedic SET program
Intro to orthopaedics 1 year, core orthopaedics 2 years, transition to practice 1 year
Components
- research component - 3 pathways including conduct a research project, complete a Masters or PhD
- education - bone camp / ASSET / CCRISP / TIPS / EMST / bone school
- exams - OPBS and final fellowship exam
- feedback and assessment - feedback entries, logbook, workplace based assessments (consultation, management, case discussion, surgical skills)
- performance review with supervisor and director of training

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5
Q

Why is research important

A

Progresses medical field and evidence based practice
Collaborative / communication skills
Critical analysis of papers
Presentation skills

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6
Q

Ethical research discussion points

A

Informed consent
Data management
Avoiding bias

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7
Q

How do you conduct a research project

A

Literature review - relevant? answered before?
Research question
Supervisor + team
Research plan and ethics proposal
Research structure (PICOTS)
- population / intervention / control / outcome / time period / statistics

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8
Q

Aims of AOA research and strategic plan 2022-2024

A

Aim - to be world-recognised for the advancement of orthopaedic surgery through

  • Training and education
  • Culture diversity and inclusion
  • Clinical practice and research
  • Advocacy and engagement
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9
Q

Key points for orthopaedics managing COVID

A

Communication
Organisation
Adaptability
Telehealth

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10
Q

Recent advances in orthopaedics - surgical and non-surgical

A

3D printing

  • Teaching tool
  • Surgical planning
  • Arthroplasty
  • Communication tool

Multi-D approach - NOFs and infections

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11
Q

What is clinical governance / what are its pillars / what is an example

A

Systematic approach to maintaining and improving the quality of patient care in a healthcare system

REPAT

  • research
  • evidence based medicine
  • patient care and safety
  • audit
  • teaching

Surgical safety checklist

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12
Q

4 fields of AOA continued professional development

A

Surgical audit and peer review
Clinical services
self-directed learning
scientific meetings and research

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13
Q

Steps of an audit

A 
Determine the scope
Set the standard
Collect the data
Present and interpret the data
Make the changes and monitor the process
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14
Q

Examples of audits

A

Self
- AOA SET logbook
- MALT (morbidity audit and logbook tool) from RACS
System
- National joint registry
- South Australian Audit of Peri-operative Mortality (SAAPM) from RACS
New technologies
- ASERNIP-S (Australian Safety and Efficacy Register of New Interventional Procedures - Surgical)

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15
Q

Difference between audit and research

A

Audit - systematic critical analysis of care, aims to ensure standard of care compares to gold standard
Research - scientific process undertaken to increase knowledge

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16
Q

Informed consent definition and elements

A

Person’s voluntary decision about medical care that is made with knowledge and understanding of the risks and benefits involved. It is a continuous and dynamic process.
Must be able to understand, retain information for a short time, and adequately communicate their decision

Voluntary choice
Full disclosure
Adequate comprehension
Able to communicate decision

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17
Q

Approach to an adverse event

A

Assessment and gather information
Discuss up chain of command and come up with plan
Rectify the situation
Open disclosure to patient
Document
Long-term - SLS, self audit, insurance, hospital legal team

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18
Q

What is a sentinel event, what are the 3 priorities to deal with

A

Subset of adverse patient safety events that are preventable and result in serious harm or death

  1. deal with the situation
  2. investigate how it occurred
  3. prevent it from happening again
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19
Q

Levels of evidence

A

Defined by Australian national health and medical research council

  • Level I – a systematic review of level two studies
  • Level II – randomised controlled trial
  • Level III-1 - pseudorandomised controlled trial. For example a randomised control trial among non-consecutive patients
  • Level III-2 - a comparative study with concurrent controls
  • Level III-3 - a comparative study without controls
  • Level IV - a case series
  • Level V - case reports / literature reviews
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20
Q

What is an impact factor?

A

Indicator of how frequently the articles in a publication are cited
Ratio given by the number of citations in the current year of articles pubslied in the previous two years, divided by the number of articles published

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21
Q

Bolam principle and Gillick competence

A

Bolam - doctor not guilty of negligence if acted in a way common within the profession
Gillick - Minors under 16 can give consent if understand the nature, risks and benefits | treatment is in their best interest | opinion corroborated by another medical practitioner

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22
Q

Negligence vs recklessness

A

Negligence - treatment not up to standard required

Recklessness - undertaking risk being aware of the risk

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23
Q

Mandatory notifications

A

AHPRA requirement for all health practitioners
When practitioner undertaking notifiable conduct that puts the public at risk
- impaired by alcohol / drugs
- sexual misconduct
- practicing with an impairment
- practicing with significant departure from acceptable standard

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24
Q

Mandatory reporting to DCP

A
  • Physical abuse
    • Sexual abuse
    • Mental or emotional abuse
    • Neglect
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25
Q

Difficult situation approach

A 
SPIES
Seek information
patient safety
initiate
escalate
support
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26
Q

Steps for introducing new technologies

A

Prior evaluation - register with ASERNIP-S, literature review
Clinical governance - conflict of interest, costs
Training of staff
Introduction - consent, learning curve, audit

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27
Q

Three principles for RACS position on interaction with industry

A

Best interest of patient is paramount
Surgeons must be accountable and transparent
Perceived, potential and actual conflict of interest must be acknowledged

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28
Q

Important qualities for a team
Example of working well in a team
Example of team working breaking down, compromising outcome

A

Communication
Organised
Honesty and trustworthy
Adaptable

Example - meningococcal patient at TQEH
Example - elbow dislocation on ward / revision arthroplasty patient Hb 80

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29
Q

Leadership qualities
Example of leadership
Example of a leader

A

Approachable
Leads by example
Supports team members
Good decision maker

Example - Dislocated paediatric elbow in Alice Springs
Example - change to first on call roster

David Hayes - Fiji

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30
Q

Teaching examples

A

Maths and physics tutor
Medical student teaching - bedside tutorials and surgical society anatomy
Intern teaching programs

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31
Q

Priorities when dealing with an underperforming junior

Example

A
  1. Patient
  2. Junior
  3. Team
    Junior team in Alice Springs, COVID affected
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32
Q

Ways to improve indigenous health

A

Contribution to indigenous health workforce
Training in cultural and awareness safety
Research scholarships in indigenous health
Building partnerships with indigenous health care groups and organisations

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33
Q

4 principles of the doctor-patent relationship

Example of communication

A

Beneficence - doing good
Non-maleficence - avoiding harm
Autonomy
Justice (equal treatment)

Meningococcal patient TQEH

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34
Q

NJRR

  • established when
  • capture rate
  • funding
  • data collected
A

SA in 1999, national in 2002
98%
federal department of health
patient demographics, type of prosthesis, method of fixation, surgical technique. Now collects PROM data

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35
Q

Differences between NJRR and clinical trial

A 
Not designed to explain causality
No exclusion criteria
Ongoing vs defined period
Trial answers a specific question
Registry higher numbers
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36
Q

Two new chapters in 2021 AOANJRR

A

COVID and its impact on joint replacement surgery

Initial findings of patient-reported outcome measures

37
Q

Key points NJRR

  • COVID
  • PROMS
  • THR
A

COVID
- 11,000 procedures not done due to COVID
- greatest impact on primary knee replacement
PROMS
- undertaken for primary TKR, THR, reverse TSR for OA and for RC arthropathy
- all groups demonstrated improvement in QOL, function, joint-specific pain 6 months after surgery
- little variation between scores in public vs private - but public patients lower pre-operative QOL and joint-specific pain
THR
- bipolar hemiarthroplasty increasing in use, associated with lower revision rate
- dual mobility THR same risk of revision as standard, but half the risk of revision for dislocation
- approach overall has no difference, but anterior worse for loosening and early fracture, posterior/lateral worse for dislocation and infection

38
Q

General considerations for VTE prophylaxis in arthroplasty patients

A 
Early mobilisation
Spinal anaesthetic
No tourniquet
TXA and delaying chemical anticoagulation
Stopping pre-operative anticoagulation
Compression devices
39
Q

Arthroplasty guidelines for chemical DVT prophylaxis

A

Routine risk

  • aspirin 100-300mg per day OR LMWH/warfarin/DOAC
  • duration 3-6 weeks

High risk

  • LMWH/warfarin/DOAC for 3-6 weeks
  • consider IVC filter
40
Q

Major criteria risk of PE

A 
hyper coagulable condition
previous ischaemic stroke
metastatic cancer
COPD
sepsis
41
Q

MOA for TXA | NOAC | warfarin | clopidogrel | aspirin | enoxaparin | cefazolin

A

TXA - inhibits plasminogen activation, prevents fibrin breakdown
NOAC - inhibit clotting cascade factors to reduce conversion of prothrombin to thrombin
warfarin - vitamin K antagonist, required for clotting cascade
clopidogrel - inhibits binding ion ADP in platelets, thus reducing aggregation
aspirin - irreversible COX enzyme inhibitor, inhibits platelet aggregation
enoxaparin - accelerates the activity antithrombin III
cefazolin - first generation cephalosporin, inhibits bacterial cell wall biosynthesis

42
Q

Skin knife paper

A
  • Study published in 2021 in Journal of American Academy of orthopaedic surgery
    • Aimed to look at the theoretical advantage of using a separate blade for the skin incision and for the deep layers, to present infection by carrying bacteria from the skin down to the deeper layers
    • 344 knife blades were tested for organisms immediately after the skin incision for orthopaedic cases (THA, TKA, lumbar and cervical spine surgery), vs 344 control blades
    • 5.1% of specimens had a positive result and no difference was noted between the groups
  • accounted for type of surgery, case order, changeover time
43
Q

CROSSBAT trial

A
  • Weber B ankle fracture treatment - randomised and observational study in BMJ 2017
  • 160 patients, randomised between 2010 and 2013 across 22 Aus/NZ hospitals
  • isolated Weber B with <2mm medial clear space widening compared to superior clear space, surgical management not superior to non-surgical for function and health-related QOL at 12 months
  • higher adverse events in surgical group
44
Q

Standards of care for NOF patients

A

Standards from the Australian Commission on safety and quality in healthcare

  1. care at presentation
  2. pain management
  3. orthogeriatric model of care
  4. timing of surgery - aim within 48h
  5. mobilisation and weight bearing
  6. minimising risk of another fracture
  7. transition from hospital care
45
Q

Generic start to trauma case examples

A
  1. Have had a lot of experience managing trauma cases in ED and find that good communication is key
  2. I would first assess the patient according to EMST principles, ideally in a resuscitation room in ED in conjunction with a mulit-D trauma team
  3. When primary and secondary surveys were complete I would take a targeted history, including PMHx and fasting status
  4. Examination fo the patient as a whole and then of the area of interest
  5. Arrange relevant imaging and further investigations
  6. Consider primary management including pain management and immobilisation
46
Q

Tourniquet complications

A 
Nerve injury
compartment syndrome
alcohol burns
pressure sores
VTE
rhabdomyolysis
Post-tourniquet syndrome 
Digital necrosis
47
Q

Contraindications to tourniquet use

A

PVD
Open fractures / crush injuries
Malignant tumours
Skin grafts

48
Q

Safe working hours

A
  • RACS has a position statement on safe working hours
    • Acknowledges that a standard 38 hour week is not realistic or ideal for surgical training
    • Also acknowledges that at times surgical trainees work hours that would be considered unsafe
    • Optimised between 50-60 Horus a week, maximum of 65, averaged over a 4 week period
    • Rostered hours should include time for teaching, audits, required assessments
    • Time made for recreational and study leave
49
Q

Contraindications to TXA

A
  • Allergy
  • Active clotting e.g. concurrent VTE
  • History of thrombosis
  • Coronary stent past 12 months
  • Uncontrolled seizure disorder
50
Q

Red flags of back pain

A
  • Infection - fevers, IVDU, immunosuppression
    • Fracture - trauma mechanism, midline tenderness
    • Tumour - weight loss, fatigue, history of malignancy
    • Neurological deficit - motor weakness, bladder or bowel changes
51
Q

How does diathermy work

A
  • Diathermy is a high frequency alternate polarity radio-wave electrical current, used to coagulate or cut during surgery
  • Cutting - continuous waveform at low voltage
  • Coagulate - pulsating waveform at high voltage
52
Q

Dangers of diathermy use

A
  • Channeling effect - using monopolar on structure with narrow pedicure
  • Ignition of flammable material e.g. chlorhex
  • Return plate burns - even contact, off bony prominences or metal prosthesis
  • Inadvertent activation burning skin
  • Personal injury - diathermy tip can remain very warm after use
  • Pacemakers - consult cardiology pre-op, have pacemaker checked. Use bipolar if possible, otherwise place plate so that correct directed away from pacemaker
53
Q

RACS surgical competence and performance guide

A
  • 10 Topics
    • Cultural competence and cultural safety
    • Communication
    • Collaboration and teamwork
    • Health advocacy
    • Judgement and clinical decision making
    • Professionalism
    • Scholarship and teaching
    • Leadership and management
    • Technical expertise
    • Medical expertise
54
Q

Kocher criteria

A
  • • Child with painful hip
    • o Non weight bearing
    • o ESR > 40
    • o Fever >38.5
    • o WCC > 12
    • 4/4 criteria = 99% chance
    • 3/4 criteria = 93% chance
    • 2/4 criteria = 40% chance
    • 1/4 criteria = 3% chance
55
Q

What is credentialing?

What is scope of practice?

A

RACS has position paper on the subject
Credentialing - process used to verify a surgeon’s qualifications, experience and professional standing for the purpose of forming a view about their ability to deliver services in a particular health service
Scope of practice - refers to the range of practice or type of procedures that an individual can perform. It is dependent upon the local environment

56
Q

What is harassment, bullying and discrimination?

A

Harassment - behaviour that makes a person feel humiliated, intimidated, degraded, insulted or offended
Bullying - harassment that occurs repeatedly and forms a pattern of behaviour
Discrimination - treating a person less favourably on the bases of legally protected attributes or personal characteristics such as their race or sex

57
Q

Methods of reducing waiting lists

A

Optimise medically to avoid cancellations
Careful selection for surgery and correct categorisation with consultant involvement
Theatre efficiency, audit the process
Thorough pre-admissions process

58
Q

Short stay arthroplasty
3x advantages
3x risks
Canadian paper

A

Advantages - Early mobility | Reduced hospital complications | Cost effective
Risks - Compromising patient safety | Slow recovery at home | Readmissions
Canadian paper 2019 - 30 day readmission rate of 2.6% comparable. BMI and ASA associated with readmission

59
Q

Single point on robotic assisted THA / TKA

A

Encouraging early results for partial joint replacements, however insufficient evidence currently to demonstrate superiority

60
Q

Position statement on surgical approach for hip arthroplasty

A

No published level 1 evidence that endorses one approach over another
Each has advantage and disadvantage, often patient specific
Successful long-lasting result can be achieved with a number
Surgeons should claim approach best in their hands, but not claim advantage over other surgeons

61
Q

AOA president

A

First female AOA president elected 2021 - Dr Annette Holian

Specifically wishes to act on areas of bias towards women in training

62
Q

Advertising

  • must comply with…
  • must not…
A

AOA ethical framework | AOA code of conduct | AHPRA regulations
Must not
- use testimonials
- create unreasonable expectations
- offer gifts or discounts
- provide statements that are false, misleading, or unsupported by evidence

63
Q

Points on overlapping surgery

A

Difference between concurrent and overlapping
Advantages - learning opportunities and efficiency
Disadvantages - risk of complication relating to critical steps overlapping
Little literature on the subject, generally only from US - overlapping not shown to be unsafe, but potential benefits of efficiency have not been shown either

64
Q

RACS statement on M&M meeting

A 
Has a matrix that gives standards for a good M&M meeting
Challenges
- logistical issues of data collection
- lack of understanding
- lack of attendacne
65
Q

How to approach which risks to mention in informed consent

A

RACS statement
Would a reasonable person in the patient’s position attach significant to the risk?
Is the doctor aware of a reason why a particular patient would attach significance to the risk?

66
Q

Open disclosure should include:

A 
Apology
Factual explanation
Opportunity for questions
Discussion of potential consequences
Explanation of steps being taken
67
Q

Kocher approach

  • internervous plane
  • structures at risk
A

ECU (PIN) and ancones (radial)

PIN

68
Q

Kaplan approach

  • internervous plane
  • structures at risk
A

ECRB (radial or PIN) and EDC (PIN)

PIN / lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm

69
Q

Henry’s

  • internervous plane
  • structures at risk
A

FCR (median) and brachioradialis (radial)

SRN / radial artery / PIN proximally

70
Q

Anterior humerus approach

  • internervous plane
  • structures at risk
A

proximally - deltoid (axillary) and pec major (pectoral nerves)
distally - medial (M/C) and lateral (radial) fibres of brachiallis
Proximal structures - axillary, M/C, anterior circumflex humeral Vessels
Distal structures - radial nerve in lateral anterior compartment

71
Q

Posterior humerus approach

  • internervous plane
  • structures at risk
A

no true internervous plane

radial nerve / posterior cutaneous branch / deep brachial artery

72
Q

Deltopectoral approach

  • internervous plane
  • structures at risk
A

deltoid (axillary) and pec major (pectoral)

axillary nerve, M/C nerve, anterior circumflex humeral artery, cephalic vein

73
Q

Lower limb fasciotomies

- structures at risk

A

medial - saphenous vein and nerve, NV bundle in deep compartment
lateral - SPN

74
Q

forearm fasciotomies

  • incision locations
  • internervous planes
A

volar
- medial epicondyle to ulna styloid
- FCU and FDS (both ulna)
dorsal
- lateral epicondyle to Lister’s tubercle
- no inter-nervous plane, release both dorsal and mobile wad compartments

75
Q

Ex fix pins into:

  • humerus
  • ulna
  • radius
  • 2nd metacarpal
  • pelvis
  • femur
  • tibia
  • calcaneus
A

humerus - proximal lateral, middle anterior, distal medial
ulna - anywhere
radius - not proximal, rest dorsal/lateral
2nd metacarpal - base and head from dorsal
pelvis - 2x pins immediately posterior to ASIS, drill only cortex, angle towards ischial spine
femur - lateral, or anterior distally
tibia - anywhere anterior
calcaneus - medial to lateral transfixing

76
Q

Smith-Petersen approach

  • incision
  • internervous plane
  • structures at risk
A

longitudinal incision, inferior and lateral to ASIS
TFL (superior gluteal) and sartorius (femoral)
structures - LFCN, femoral nerve and artery, ascending branch lateral femoral circumflex

77
Q

posterolateral ankle

  • internervous plane
  • structures at risk
A 
peroneal tendons (SPN) and FHL (tibial)
structures - short saphenous vein, rural nerve
78
Q

ankle and shoulder arthroscopy ports

A

ankle
AL - peroneus tertius and lateral mal
AM - TA and medial mal

shoulder
posterior - 2cm inferior, 1cm medial to posterolateral tip of acromion
anterior - midpoint between coracoid process and anterior acromion

79
Q

Advantages of new AOA21 program

A

Flexibility - can take 9 years, promotes diversity and work-life balance
Transition to practice period - extra training, allow time to determine subspeciality
Competency based program, rather than time
Disadvantage - tick-box mentality

80
Q

Pros and cons of publishing surgeon and hospital results

A

Pros
- informed decisions for patients
- self auditing process, motivate improvements
Cons
- reluctancy to risk complications with comorbid patients
- supply / demand issues for hospitals

81
Q

ASR hip

A

Australia first country to take regulatory action and remove ASR hip from the market in 2009
Acted upon data from the joint registry

82
Q

Diversity programs within AOA

A

Orthopaedic women link - encourages and supports women in orthopaedics
Champions of change working group - works with AOA and OWL to address diversity within the organisation
Cultural inclusion working group - advises and makes recommendations to the AOA Board on matters of cultural inclusion and diversity

83
Q

Maintaining high standards of care

A

Self-auditing and logbook
NJRR data
Departmental audits
Attending conferences / research meetings

84
Q

Critically appraise a research project

A 
CASP - critical appraisal skills program
level of evidence
evaluate study design
consider bias
application to specific population
85
Q

Challenges being a trainee

A

Added responsibility
Leadership role within the team
Additional pressures of exams / assessments

86
Q

Cost cutting measures

A

Rostering and staffing
Theatre efficiency
Reducing waste in theatre and optimising implants

87
Q

AOA ethical framework points

A 
integrity
respect
quality
empathy
teamwork
service
stewardship
88
Q 
leadership
conflict
setback
advocate
good outcome
bad teamwork compromising outcome
good leader
diagnostic dilemma
difficult colleague
angry patient
stressful situation
mistake
gave feedback
received criticism
prevented harm
describe one of your complications
A

leadership - roster / ASH elbow
conflict - dislocated elbow on ward
setback - Bain research
patient advocate - revision hip Friday pm
good outcome - meningococcal
teamwork for good outcome - meningococcal
bad teamwork compromising outcome - revision Hb 80
good leader - Hayes
diagnostic dilemma - nec fasc in indigenous patient LMH
difficult colleague - registrar ASH
angry patient - patient cancelled on day didn’t stop DMARD at LMH
stressful situation - PNG dislocated hip, Kurmis revision
mistake - Kurmis revision
gave feedback to staff - intern ASH
received criticism - anaesthetics in theatre not aware of cases
prevented harm - DMARD foot
Describe one of your complications - ankle fixation failed young T1DM patient

89
Q

Pros and cons to MBS changes

A 
Pros
- reflect contemporary changes
- allows resources to be distributed fairly
- appropriate renumeration
Cons
- surgeons adjusting to changes

Interview (4 decks)

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