Understanding Orthopaedic Infections: A Conceptual Approach.

Background: Memorizing mounds of facts without having an effective conceptual framework to store them is often an unsuccessful learning style because memory frequently fails without understanding. To accomplish this goal, we offer a framework of ideas called "concept maps". Of the many strategies for metacognition (that is, thinking about thinking), concept mapping is proven to improve meaningful and independent learning. We used this approach to guide understanding of common orthopaedic infections. This paper is not meant to serve as an approach on how to treat, but rather as a storage system with the ability to assist in understanding orthopaedic infections.

Methods: Concept maps are constructed using information from over 30 sources of orthopaedic or infectious disease literature. The sequential levels of each concept map are referred to as levels of hierarchy. Boxes of each level of hierarchy are designed to be a point of differentiation between a similar concept. Branches form lower levels of hierarchy to further divide specific concepts.

Results: 5 concept maps were constructed. One map is an overview of all concepts, and the key concept for each of the following map are as follows: osteomyelitis, synovial infection, myositis, and foreign material infection.

Conclusion: A conceptual approach is a way of learning material in a manner that allows effective storage and retrieval. This approach will ultimately lead to a better understanding of orthopaedic infections.