Efficacy of a cadaver-based procedural skills lab for internal medicine residents

Abstract Cadaver-based simulation has been used in many surgical and subspecialty fields to teach procedural skills. We developed a cadaver-based simulation curriculum to enhance internal medicine residents’ comfort with arthrocentesis. 29 internal medicine residents in postgraduate years 1–3 participated in the cadaver-based simulation session. Multidisciplinary faculty precepted the course, with assistance from rheumatology fellows. Landmark-based and ultrasonography-guided injections were performed on cadaver shoulder and knee joints. Residents reported an average of 1.63 arthrocentesis procedures performed prior to the simulation session. They reported a comfort level of 1.74 on the pre-simulation session survey. This comfort level improved by 70.11% to 2.94 following the simulation session. The effect was sustained at 4–6-week follow-up, with residents reporting a comfort level of 2.94. Cadaver-based procedural skills sessions increased self-reported trainee comfort with arthrocentesis. We recommend that such simulation sessions should be adopted into formal internal medicine residency training.