900 Section - Implementation of a Fresh Cadaver-Based Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Curriculum for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residents

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT

Co-Author(s)

GP

Gustavo Henrique Pereira Boog, MD

Medical Resident
IMREA
São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
CN

Caio MD Neiva, MD

PM&R physician
Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP)
São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
TH

Thomas Helfenstein, No, MD

Physiatrist, head of the chronic pain outpatient clinic
Instituto de Medicina Física e Reabilitação do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo (IMREA - HC FMUSP)
São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
RC

Rebeca B. Cecatto, PhD, MD

Médica
Rede Lucy Montoro HC Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de Sao Paulo
São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Presenting Author/Autor expositor(s)

André T. Tadeu Sugawara, PhD

Professor Doutor de Medicina Legal, Bioética, Medicina do Trabalho e Medicina Física e Reabilitação
Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina
São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Objectives : Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSKUS) is a critical competency for physiatrists, yet structured training remains scarce. This study aims to describe the design, implementation and operational feasibility of a high-fidelity, simulation-based MSKUS curriculum utilizing fresh cadavers within a tertiary rehabilitation residency program, establishing a reproducible educational model.

Design: We developed a multimodal curriculum integrating theoretical modules with weekly hands-on practical sessions. The program utilized fresh, non-autopsied cadavers to ensure high-fidelity sonoanatomy and procedural simulation. The training structure involved rotational blocks targeting second-year residents, with supplementary exposure for first-year residents and a "train-the-trainer" track for third-year residents. The implementation process was analyzed focusing on resource allocation, institutional partnerships for specimen access, and pedagogical adaptations required for a heterogeneous group of trainees.

Results: The curriculum was successfully operationalized, transitioning from an opportunistic teaching model to a standardized educational track. Key logistical barriers regarding equipment acquisition and biological specimen handling were overcome through strategic interdepartmental partnerships. The multi-level training structure proved feasible, allowing for simultaneous engagement of residents with varying proficiency: novices focused on basic image acquisition, while senior residents consolidated teaching skills. The dynamic instructional approach effectively managed trainee heterogeneity, ensuring consistent exposure to guided procedures and anatomical scanning targets.

Conclusion:
Implementing a fresh cadaver-based ultrasound curriculum in a residency program is logistically feasible and provides a safe, high-fidelity environment for skill acquisition. This model addresses the ethical imperative of simulation-based training prior to clinical application and offers a scalable framework for other institutions seeking to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical proficiency in interventional physiatry.