Week 3 Reflection

This past week flew by! With the exception of Monday, which was spent researching, my days were jam packed with new things. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday were all spent in the OR where I was able to observe the different techniques for procedures including ACL grafts, meniscectomys, rotator cuff repairs, and labrum repairs. Being able to watch similar surgeries in different hospitals was also very interesting, being able to not only compare and contrast the different techniques of the surgeons and the rest of the surgical staff, but also the differences in the ORs themselves, the different  set up and equipment. My favorite surgery this week was watching the ACL with an autograft of the hamstring. I found it really neat being able to see the hamstrings be harvested, and then watching the hamstrings be cleaned and sized for the graft. I also found the allograft of the Achilles tendon to be really fascinating. It's so strange to think about having a piece of someone else's body in your knee, or anywhere else for that matter. I finished off my week with a very busy Friday in the office. I love the office days, especially Friday because I am there all day! Friday we saw 25 patients, and with each and every patient we go through H.O.P.S. (History, Observation, Palpations, and Special Tests), in order to diagnose the patient. I have learned a variety of tests to aid in the diagnosis for so many different injuries, but I have also learned narrow down what type of injury based just on what the patient says and where they describe their pain. I also feel like I have become very well versed on the anatomy of the shoulder and the knee, although we saw many other injuries, a majority of the injuries we saw on a daily basis were shoulders and knees. Through observing Dr. Hennig's different appointments I also have learned a lot about the different treatment options for a patient based on the type of injury, level of pain, and whether or not the injury interferes with the daily routine of the patient. These past two weeks have been so educational and I am sad that it is all coming to a close, but I am feeling very confident in my choice for my future profession!