title: Musculoskeletal oncology training during residency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of a musculoskeletal oncology training module during residency.
  
  
  METHODS
  24 orthopaedic residents with differing years of experience were recruited. 12 of them received musculoskeletal oncology training for 6 months. The remaining 12 were controls who did not attend the training and had no clinical experience in a musculoskeletal oncology unit but had at least 3 years of postgraduate surgical training. Upon completion, residents in both groups were assessed by a knowledge test and then an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Residents who attended the training module had better mean knowledge test scores (48 vs 25 out of 58, p<0.0001) and OSCE scores (32 vs 22 out of 42, p<0.004), compared to those who did not attend. No residents who attended the training module marked an inappropriate biopsy site that would have compromised definitive surgery, compared to 5 (42%) of the untrained residents who marked an inappropriate biopsy site that may have resulted in an unnecessary amputation. All residents who attended the training module agreed that such a module should be included in the orthopaedic residency programme.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Residents who attended the training module were more aware of the biopsy principles and risks. A training module for musculoskeletal oncology should be included in the orthopaedic residency programme.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. nei1burke@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Neil G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Cathal J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hurson
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dudeney
authors.forename: Gary C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: O'Toole
mesh_terms: D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000193:education*; D011859:Radiography; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*