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SECOND EDITION
Postgraduate A
Paediatric W
Orthopaedics
CAMBRIDGE Medidne
Postgraduate Paediatric Orthopaedics
The Candidate’s Guide to the FRCS (Tr & Orth)
Examination
Second Edition
Stan Jones FRCS MBChB, MSc Bio Eng, FRCS (Tr & Orth)
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Al Ahli Hospital, Qatar
Paul A. Banaszkiewicz FRCS (Glas) FRCS (Ed) FRCS (Eng) FRCS (Tr & Orth)
MClinEd FAcadMEd FHEA
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Queen Elizabeth Hospital and North East NHS Surgical Centre (NENSC), Gateshead, UK
Visiting Professor, Northumbria University, UK
British Orthopaedic Association Council Trustee
www.cambridge.org
Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781108970617
DOI: 10.1017/9781108989879
© Cambridge University Press 2024
This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception
and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements,
no reproduction of any part may take place without the written
permission of Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
First Edition 2014
Second Edition 2024
Printed in the United Kingdom by TJ Books Limited, Padstow Cornwall
A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British
Library.
A Cataloging-in-Publication data record for this book is available from
the Library of Congress.
ISBN 978-1-108-97061-7 Paperback
Cambridge University Press & Assessment has no responsibility
for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party
internet websites referred to in this publication and does not
guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain,
accurate or appropriate.
Every effort has been made in preparing this book to provide accurate
and up-to-date information that is in accord with accepted standards
and practice at the time of publication. Although case histories are
drawn from actual cases, every effort has been made to disguise the
identities of the individuals involved. Nevertheless, the authors,
editors, and publishers can make no warranties that the information
contained herein is totally free from error, not least because clinical
standards are constantly changing through research and regulation.
The authors, editors, and publishers therefore disclaim all liability for
direct or consequential damages resulting from the use of material
contained in this book. Readers are strongly advised to pay careful
attention to information provided by the manufacturer of any drugs
or equipment that they plan to use.
8. Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Disorders 144 19. Musculoskeletal Infection 338
Anthony Cooper, Akinwande Adedapo, and Stan Jones Mark Gaston, Richard Gardner, and Simon Kelley
9. Traumatic Foot and Ankle Disorders 170 20. Musculoskeletal Tumours 347
Vittoria Bucknall and Mohammed Al-Maiyah Richard Gardner, Gino R. Somers, and Sevan Hopyan
vii
viii
Alwyn Abraham BSc MBChB FRCS (Tr & Orth) Paul A. Banaszkiewicz FRCS (Glas) FRCS (Ed) FRCS (Eng)
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK FRCS (Tr & Orth) MClinEd FAcadMEd FHEA
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, UK
Akinwande Adedapo MBBS FRCS (Eng) FRCS (Glas)
James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK Dean E. Boyce MB BCh FRCS FRCSEd FRCSPlast MD
The Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Swansea, UK
Mubshshar Ahmad MBBS FRCS (Tr & Orth)
University Hospital of North Durham,UK Lee M. Breakwell MSc FRCS (Tr & Orth)
Tahani Al Ali BSc MSc Sheffield Children’s Hospitals, Sheffield, UK
Al Jalila Children Speciality Hospital, Dubai Academic Health Rachel Buckingham MB ChB FRCS (Tr and Orth) CTS
Corporation, Dubai, UAE Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK
Khalid Alawadi MBBCh Facharzt (Plastic) EBOPRAS FESSH Vittoria Bucknall MBChB BMSc MFSTEd FRCS (Tr & Orth)
(Hand Surgery) Diploma Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, Liverpool, UK
Rashid Hospital, Dubai Academic Health Corporation, Dubai,
UAE Clare Carpenter BSc MBBCh MRCS (Eng) Pg Dip Sports
Med FRCS (T & Orth) MD
Ehab Aldlyami MBChB FRCS (Tr & Orth) Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital, Cardiff, UK
Kings College London, Dubai, UAE
Ashley A. Cole BMedSci BMBS FRCS (Tr & Orth)
Farhan Ali FRCS (Tr & Orth) Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Sheffield, UK
Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
Anthony Cooper BSc MBChB MRCS FRCS (Tr & Orth)
Fazal Ali FRCS (Tr & Orth) BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
Chesterfield Royal Hospital, Chesterfield, UK
John Davies MB ChB MSc (Eng) FRCS (Tr & Orth)
Talal Al-Jabri MBBS BSc (Hons) MRCS (Eng) MSc (Surg) Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
FRCS (Tr & Orth)
Imperial College, London, UK Gavin DeKiewiet MBChB FRCS RCPS (Glas) FRCS (Ed)
FRCSOrth
Mohammed Al-Maiyah MBChB FICMS FRCS MSc (Orthop) Sunderland Royal Infirmary, Sunderland, UK
FRCS (Tr & Orth)
Croydon University Hospital, London, UK Thomas Dehler FA T&O Germany
Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland, UK
Sattar Alshryda MRCS FRCS (Tr & Orth) MBA MSc PhD
Al Jalila Children Speciality Hospital, Dubai Academic Health Sara Dorman MBChB BMSc (Hons) MRCS MSc FRCSEd (Tr
Corporation, Dubai, UAE & Orth) MFSTEd
Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Sheffield, UK
Tony Antonios BSc MBBS PGCertHBE MSc FRCS
(Tr & Orth) Sean Duffy FRCS (Tr & Orth)
Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol Children’s Hospital, Bristol, UK
Ashford, UK
Deborah M. Eastwood MBBS FRCS
Simon L. Barker BSc (Hons) MD FRCS (Tr & Orth) Great Ormond St Hospital and the Royal National Orthopaedic
Royal Children’s Hospital, Aberdeen, UK Hospital, London, UK
ix
James A. Fernandes MS (Orth) DNB (Orth) MCh (Orth) Bavan Luckshman MBBS BSc (Hons) MRCS
FRCS (Tr & Orth) Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK
Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Sheffield, UK
Ben Marson FRCS (Tr & Orth)
Gregory B. Firth MBBCh FCS (Orth) MMed (Orth) Nottingham University Hospital, Nottingham, UK
Royal London Hospital, London, UK
Ibrar Majid, Consultant Paediatric and Orthopaedic
Richard Gardner MBBS MRCS FRCS (Tr & Orth) surgeon
CURE Ethiopia Children’s Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital , Dubai Academic Health
Corporation, Dubai, UAE
Mark Gaston MB BChir MA (Cantab) FRCSEd (Tr & Orth) PhD
The Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids), Fergal Monsell MBBCh MSc PhD FRCS (Orth)
Edinburgh, UK University Hospitals Bristol, Bristol, UK
Sandeep Gokhale MBBS MRCS (Edinburgh) MS Nick Nicolaou BSc (Hons) MBBS MSc (Tr & Orth) MRCS
Orthopedics (India) (Eng) FRCS (Orth)
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital, Cardiff, UK Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Sheffield, UK
Sevan Hopyan MD PhD FRCSC
Matt Nixon MD FRCS (Tr & Orth)
University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester, UK
Richard Hutchinson MBChB MRCS MSc (Dist) Orth (Eng)
Kathryn Price BMedSci MMedSci FRCSEd (Tr & Orth)
FRCS (Orth)
Nottingham University Hospital, Nottingham, UK
Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, UK
Stan Jones FRCS MB ChB MSc Bio Eng FRCS (Tr & Orth) Manoj Ramachandran BSc (Hons) MBBS (Hons) MRCS
(Eng) FRCS (Tr & Orth)
Al Ahli Hospital, Qatar
Barts NHS Trust, London, UK
Syed Kazmi MSOP MHA
Al Jalila Children Speciality Hospital, Dubai Academic Health Anish P. Sanghrajka MBBS MRCS FRCS (Tr & Orth)
Corporation, Dubai, UAE Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, Norwich, UK
Simon Kelley MBChB FRCS (Tr & Orth) Gino R. Somers MBBS PhD FRCPA
The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
Mohamed Kenawey Consultant Paediatric and Orthopae- Joanna Thomas MBBS MSc FRCS (Tr & Orth)
dic surgeon University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust,
Royal Manchester Children Hospital, Manchester, UK Southampton, UK
Om Lahoti MS (Orth) Dip N B (Orth) FRCS (Orth) FRCS (C) Jennifer Walsh BEng PGDip Stat PhD
King’s College Hospital, London, UK Astley Ainslie Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
Since 1998, I have convened an annual core curriculum lec- much more than lecture notes and covers all of the major sub-
ture course in paediatric orthopaedics at Alder Hey Children’s jects with sufficient information to keep the reader interested,
Hospital. Over the years, we have frequently been asked to rec- while still delivering the required facts to an examination can-
ommend books that succinctly cover all of the necessary infor- didate as quickly as possible. I congratulate the editors and the
mation and I now believe that we have found such a book in authors for producing such a useful text.
Postgraduate Paediatric Orthopaedics: The Candidate’s Guide
to the FRCS (Tr & Orth) Examination. As the title suggests, the Colin E. Bruce
text is targeted toward trainees sitting the FRCS (Tr & Orth) Consultant Children’s Orthopaedic Surgeon
examination but the book would also be useful for those who Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
seek to enhance or maintain their paediatric orthopaedic Liverpool, UK
knowledge base, including practicing orthopaedic surgeons, President of the British Society of Children’s Orthopaedic
GPs, paediatricians and specialist physiotherapists. The text is Surgery (BSCOS)
xi
As a past paediatric orthopaedic examiner and Chair of What the authors provide in this book is a distillation of the
the Intercollegiate Specialty Board for the FRCS Trauma & key facts and classifications as well as a structure for organizing
Orthopaedics exam, I was very interested to see drafts of the text knowledge about paediatric orthopaedic conditions. I wish it
and was honoured to be asked to write this foreword. had been available when I was training!
I have known Sattar, Paul and Stan and also several of the
other distinguished contributors for many years. They are some Prof. Richard Montgomery MB, BS, FRCS(Ed), FRCS(Eng)
of the most able, enthusiastic and industrious medical educators Hon. Consultant Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgeon,
that I have met. Their long experience in assisting candidates to Middlesbrough & Newcastle upon Tyne
prepare for the exam is obvious in this book. Visiting Professor, School of Health & Social Care,
When candidates are preparing for the exam there is a University of Teesside
tendency to cram in knowledge in as many fields as possible. Past Chair, Intercollegiate Specialty Board in T&O Surgery,
However, if that knowledge is not structured, it may be difficult for the FRCS T&O examination
to recall it and to present it to the examiners in a logical way. Past President of the British Limb Reconstruction Society
Recalling the facts, and being able to present them to the exam-
iner in a logical way is vital to exam success.
xii
Why another exam-related FRCS (Tr & Orth) book? Don’t the same time, we didn’t want it to become too flimsy, such
we cover paediatrics in the chapters of the other Postgraduate that you felt you were missing something and you needed to
Orthopaedics books? repeatedly go to the bigger specialized textbooks of paediatric
We always felt the need for a more definitive guide to the orthopaedics.
paediatric component of the FRCS exam. Special mention about the unusual time of Covid-19 that
We were never entirely happy that the FRCS (Tr & Orth) occupied a large part of the book writing process. Whilst some
paediatric syllabus was particularly well written or developed authors may say the extra time in lockdown gave them the
in a number of orthopaedic books. Most lacked the specific sub- opportunity to complete tasks, they were unlikely to have done
ject focus that candidates needed to pass the FRCS (Tr & Orth) otherwise this wasn’t particularly applicable to us. Despite the
exam. extra time of lockdown with elective surgery cancelled extra
General orthopaedic books tended to scratch the surface of time doesn’t always equate with productive efficient time usage.
a difficult area of orthopaedics that needs to be learnt well for As with all the Postgraduate Orthopaedics book series, we
the exam. Specialized books in paediatrics meant you could lose make no claim for the originality of the material contained in
all focus of the subject’s relevance and end up not extracting out the text. This material is available in the larger orthopaedic com-
the relevant/specific detail required to pass the exam. Moreover, munity. We have simply distilled and focused this knowledge
you could end up spending a lot of unnecessary time and effort down into something that will hopefully get you through the
drowning in these specialized textbooks and not have enough exam.
time left to read the basic science, trauma, or hands sections. We hope you find this book useful in preparing for the exam
Our aim with this book was to make it all-encompassing, so and we wish you every success. We hope that in some small (or
that it covers everything you need to know to pass the FRCS (Tr large) way the book will make the difference between you pass-
& Orth) section of the exam, without having to cross-reference ing and failing the exam
from other larger textbooks – a tall order, but one which we hope
we manage to succeed in doing. Sattar Alshryda
We were careful not to make the book too detailed, so Stan Jones
it ends up being like a subspecialty book in paediatrics. At Paul A. Banaskiewicz
xiii
Special thanks to all the authors involved with the Postgraduate coordinating our website structure and to our web designer
Orthopaedics book series over the years. Without your input, no Farrakh, who has helped us develop and progress our website
book would be possible. through the years.
Special thanks to Jessica Papworth and Beth Sexton at Special thanks to Kath McCourt CBE, Nick Caplan and
Cambridge University Press for their help, guidance, and Dianna Ford at Northumbria University for their help and sup-
patience with this second edition of Postgraduate Paediatric port through the years.
Orthopaedics. As ever, thanks to Jo McStea who keeps the whole PGO setup
Special thanks to our medical artist Biswa Prakash Sahoo rolling along.
from India who did a great job of drawing the book illustrations. Thanks to James Coey,Assistant Dean Basic Sciences St.
Great appreciation for Anthony Michael Rex (Consultant George’s University for photography,inspiration and just being
Spine Surgeon), Metwally Sayed Ahmad(Consultant Ortho there to help and guide.
paedic Surgeon,Kuwait) Karim Khalil (Paediatric Orthopaedic Special thanks to all of our orthopaedic trainers who helped
Specialist) and Yasir Adil Al-Humairi (T&O Resident) for guide and nurture our development through the many years of
their help in the proofreading. Thanks to Faizan Jabbar for our own orthopaedic training.
xiv
xv
xvi
xvii
xviii
1 Paul A. Banaszkiewicz
Introduction exam is not set out to test you in microscopic detail about trivial
irrelevancies. The exam is not even designed to test for subspe-
The same sentiments still apply from our first edition’s chap-
cialty interest. The other quoted analogy that is often used by
ter that general FRCS (Tr & Orth) exam guidance material can
Royal Colleges is that the exam should be viewed as a mature
become a little dull and tedious to most candidates. We again
conversation between two consultant colleagues. I have never
have tried to avoid any unnecessary repetition of material, con-
bought into this comparison but you will equally find many who
centrating on the important details vital for exam success.
accept this metaphor.
Since we wrote the introduction chapter for the first edition
The first day you are on call as a consultant, your registrar
book several years ago, candidate preparation for the FRCS (Tr
may phone you up about a child with a painful hip in casualty.
& Orth) exam has significantly altered in two major ways. The
A child with knock knees may have been wrongly referred to
first is the established use of WhatsApp groups for exam prepa-
your adult knee clinic. Your trauma practice may cover children
ration, and the second is an even bigger more widespread reli-
and you may worry about risks of growth arrest with particular
ance on being part of a study group for exam preparation.
fracture patterns.
One of the major concerns for most candidates is to know
the most likely paediatric viva questions that regularly appear
in the exam. Equally important is to be aware of any unusual The History of the FRCS (Tr & Orth) Exam
clinical cases that have unexpectedly appeared in the Section 2 In the late 1970s, the old-style FRCS ceased to mark the end of
exam. This is especially important for the intermediate cases as training and had become the entry into higher surgical training.
a difficult, unusual condition can sink your day. The only exam in Britain devoted exclusively to orthopaedics was
Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy is a fairly rare the MChOrth from the University of Liverpool. To take this exam,
case that, for most candidates, is off their radar for the clinical you generally had to work in or around the Mersey Deanery.
exam. In several consecutive diets of exams, this disorder ended The situation was clearly unsatisfactory and, under the guid-
up as an intermediate case. Candidates who had no clue about ance of the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, a Specialty
the condition almost invariably failed badly, whilst those in the Fellowship exam in orthopaedics was introduced in 1979. This
know usually performed very well. There was usually a large dis- exam was optional but soon became established as a benchmark
crepancy in performance between the two types of candidates. of completion of training and a quality assurance measure. It
A candidate’s performance on this particular intermediate case was an entirely clinical exam with a viva voce format. The stand-
could be the defining feature of whether a candidate passed or ard was high, and the pass mark variable. It was not an easy exam
failed their entire exam. to pass, but it became accepted that recognition of the standard
In the last five years, there has been widespread normaliza- of higher surgical training by assessment in the form of an exam
tion in the use of WhatsApp groups for exam preparation. At its is essential in orthopaedics. This is, in fact, applicable to all sur-
most basic level, this involves candidates listing their own exam gical specialties, not just orthopaedics.
experiences almost immediately after their exam is completed. In time, the exam was accepted by all four Royal Colleges,
As such, questions are widely circulated and freely available for and in 1990, a new intercollegiate exam was introduced. This
both trainees and non-trainees to digest. originally took place twice a year in each of the colleges in turn.
The problems that existed with the ‘candidate accounts’ that This exam became a requirement for accreditation, together
floated around on the Internet still exist with the WhatsApp with the satisfactory completion of training in an approved pro-
accounts. Most ‘candidate experiences’ are all written in a very gramme that had been inspected and approved by the Specialist
similar vein and after reading the first two or three, very lit- Advisory Committee.
tle extra new material is then uncovered. Also these accounts For many years, it was difficult to get hold of any valuable
become just an endless list of topics without a structured answer exam guidance. The exam appeared to be surrounded in secrecy.
to the question being provided. Despite a curriculum and syllabus, many candidates entered the
Study groups are now more than ever vital for exam success, exam not really knowing what to expect. The usual line was that
with many groups scheduling 1–2 hours of exam discussion and if you had undertaken good clinical work, read the appropriate
practice on the Internet most nights. literature and had a sound grasp of basic sciences, you would be
The aims of the exam are to see if you have enough knowl- expected to pass.
edge to practise safely as a day-one orthopaedic consultant in a It was generally difficult to get useful information and tips
district general hospital in the generality of orthopaedics. The from previous candidates, such as the expected standard or the
1
questions likely to be asked. Another fact – now easily forgotten – to phase out extended matching item (EMI) questions. When
was that the Internet was in its infancy and there simply was not compared to single best answer (SBA) questions, EMI questions
the candidate support network that there is today. were less able to differentiate between candidates and were dif-
There were not a large number of courses available to guide ficult to construct. EMI questions have not featured in the FRCS
a candidate on the expected standard, and some courses set the (Tr & Orth) examinations from January 2021 onwards.
level far too high. The idea was that you were panicked into hit- Section 1 exam will consist of two papers as follows:
ting the books, as you perceived that your knowledge was not Paper 1 (2 hours and 15 minutes)
up to the required standard. This was fine if you had a year or SBA – 120 questions
so to go before the exam and you could plan a more intensive Paper 2 (2 hours and 15 minutes)
schedule of revision, but not so good if your exam was sooner. SBA – 120 questions
The situation began to change around the turn of the mil- Total 4 hours and 30 minutes – 240 questions.
lennium. A number of candidates began writing down their
Candidates will have a two-year period from their first
own experiences as a revision tool for the next wave of candi-
attempt to pass the Section 1 exam, with a maximum of four
dates sitting the exam. A small select number of candidates in
attempts with no re-entry. Details are available on the JCIE web-
larger training programmes began to form study groups. These
site (www.jcie.org.uk). Candidates with proven dyslexia may be
study groups acquired, and circulated, these candidate accounts
eligible for the Section 1 examination times to be extended and
among themselves to help with exam preparation. The deal
this should be highlighted in advance of the exam.
was that once you had passed, you wrote your own account for
There is no negative marking; therefore, all questions should
those candidates coming after you to use for their preparation.
be attempted. Sample questions can be viewed on the JCIE web-
In time, these candidate experience reports began to circulate
site. Experienced examiners perform a formal process of stand-
more freely in a wider domain.
ard setting to decide the final pass mark for each paper. SBA
Today there are numerous websites containing candidates’
questions are subject to quality assurance procedures, including
exam experiences. These include the British Orthopaedic
feedback from both examiners and candidates. Difficulty level,
Trainee Association, various regional training programme sites,
content, discrimination index, and internal consistency are ana-
and lastly individual accounts from successful candidates. The
lysed. Ambiguous questions, or those deemed insufficient to dif-
major problem with many candidate experiences is that they
ferentiate between candidates, are removed through this process.
deal with specific viva or clinical questions in a rather superficial
SBA questions consist of an introductory theme, a question
way, mainly with bullet point headings. Also, we have yet to see
stem, and five possible responses (listed as A to E), of which one
an unsuccessful candidate’s experience posted on the Internet.
is the most appropriate answer. SBA questions are exactly what
Candidates generally learn more from what went wrong than if
the name suggests: candidates choose the best from five possi-
only successful accounts are presented. WhatsApp groups and
ble answers. It is important to note that this is not a ‘single cor-
Telegram are now replacing the Internet as means for trainees
rect answer’, but a ‘single best answer’. Moreover, all five possible
to quickly communicate to each other exam tips and tricks or to
answers could be considered correct, but candidates are asked
discuss difficult learning points.
which is best, or most appropriate, given the information pro-
The standard of FRCS (Tr & Orth) exam courses has, by and
vided. As questions are designed to test higher-order thinking,
large, significantly improved and, in general, candidates are
this could mean that limited or irrelevant information is pro-
much more informed and have a better idea of what types of
vided. Questions require a judgement based on interpretation of
question tend to get asked. So one of the most major changes
the available evidence. Questions that candidates later complain
with the FRCS (Tr & Orth) exam in the last 10 years is that the
about, for example ‘there was more than one correct answer’ or
mystery surrounding it has completely evaporated away.
that a question was ‘too ambiguous’, can often prove the best per-
The old-style viva with a variable number of questions is
forming questions.
definitely a thing of the past. The viva is now standardized for
For more detailed information on the dynamics of the
candidates, with similar questions being asked for each topic
Section 1 paper, candidates should read Chapters 1 and 2 of
covered. This leads to a much fairer exam, with much less poten-
SBAs for the FRCS (Tr&Orth) Examination: A Companion to
tial for any discrimination.
Postgraduate Orthopaedics Candidate’s Guide.
The introduction of this new Section 2 clinical exam was sig- Clinicals
nificantly disrupted with the Covid-19 pandemic, with several The clinicals are divided into six five-minute clinical examin-
exam diets being cancelled. There was an urgent need to begin ation technique vivas, including upper and lower limb, as well
examining a large backlog of trainees to prevent the orthopae- as spine, vivas.
dic training system from grinding to a halt. It was therefore At present, there are four intermediate cases, 15 minutes
decided to temporarily hold the clinical component without each (five-minute history, five-minute clinical examination,
direct patient involvement using iPads. Six short case exami- five-minute discussion). These involve patients.
nation vivas were introduced, along with the temporary use of
simulated intermediate cases, both showing candidates a series Orals
of clinical photographs on iPads on which questions were based. The oral component is divided into four 30-minute viva sections:
When the pandemic settles, it is expected that patient involve- • Basic science
ment with the intermediate cases will resume. • Trauma, including spine
The clinical component was often viewed as the most difficult • Adult elective orthopaedics, including spine
part of the whole exam to pass and these changes had a major • Paediatric orthopaedics and hand surgery, including
impact on how candidates prepare for the exam. Although the shoulder and elbow.
Royal Colleges remain positive and upbeat, a significant num-
ber of consultants are disappointed with the changes. If you Paediatric Section
are an educationalist, you are likely to follow the party line and The paediatric oral section is combined with the hands and
state that the exam assessment will remain as robust as ever. In upper limbs section. The examiners have to introduce them-
practice, there is a huge difference in skills, professionalism, and selves to the candidate and remind the candidate which oral he
knowledge required to examine a patient with a rotator cuff tear, or she is about to be examined on, to allow the candidate time
and elicit and interpret positive clinical signs, as opposed to just to settle. Feedback is given where appropriate such as: ‘OK, let’s
describing how you would go about examining for this in a viva move on’ or ‘We have covered this area, let’s go on’. Examiners
situation. If you have prelearnt the talk and gone through some are encouraged to avoid remarks such as ‘Excellent’, ‘Well done’,
practice runs in your study group, you should be more than half- ‘That’s great’, or ‘Fantastic’.
way towards passing the viva. Props, such as radiographs, pictures, and charts, are usually
The short case clinical examination technique viva involves used to lead into a question.
candidates being shown a clinical case and describing how they Three paediatric topics are discussed – these usually cover a
would go about examining that patient – for paediatrics, it could trauma-type question, one big (A-list) topic, and a less obvious
be a picture of a young child with a unilateral pes planus deform- clinical topic.
ity, perhaps an obvious tarsal coalition – and describing their Hammering on when a candidate could not answer a ques-
approach to that particular patient. tion used to be a common candidate complaint, but examiners
Superficially, this viva is similar to the oral topics viva, but are now actively dissuaded from this practice.
the Joint Surgical Colleges Fellowship Examination (JSCFE) All candidates are treated in exactly the same manner and
Committee are at great pains to point out that the clinical short marks are based on performance only. Examiners are instructed
case vivas are very different. There are no questions on manage- to allow for candidates’ nervousness and are told not to respond
ment of the condition and the specific aim of the viva is to work to inappropriate behaviour by a candidate. Inappropriate behav-
through clinical examination. Be prepared to be grilled in detail iour would include rudeness or sarcastic remarks to the examin-
about how you perform a particular clinical test, and the theory ers, impoliteness, and bad-mannered or derogatory comments
behind it. More important than how you perform a particular about facilities or organization issues.
test is how the test will change your management of the condi- A significant change is that viva questions are now more clin-
tion. For example, if the Coleman block test demonstrates that ically orientated and relevant to the types of situation that may
the hindfoot is rigid, how will this change your management of present to a consultant orthopaedic surgeon in clinical practice.
the pes cavus deformity? For this reason, potential exam questions are now significantly
A decision has been reached to minimize the use of more scrutinized than previously, before being approved by the
radiographs or scans in this viva, as this will avoid steering the exam committee for inclusion in the exam.
conversation on to management.
Candidates’ feedback for the paediatric short case clini- When to Sit the Exam
cal vivas suggests that these are particularly difficult to answer. It is generally accepted that you will need about one full year of
Previously, unless the exam was being held near a paediatric preparation before you will feel confident to sit the exam.
tertiary centre, the amount of complex paediatric cases brought In theory, it should be relatively easy for you to decide if you
into the exam hall was usually limited. Now a photograph of a have enough experience and have prepared in sufficient detail to
very rare paediatric condition can be shown and candidates may sit the exam. In practice, a multitude of competing issues usually
struggle to piece together a structured examination format to complicate this decision.
satisfy the examiners. Added to this, the general unfamiliarity of If you are a trainee, you will have been sitting the UK
this new exam format means that stress levels are much greater In-Training Exam for the last three or four years and should
in paediatric clinicals than was ever the case. know your annual scores. Many training programmes also have
V. From Horace.
X. From Anacreon.
Μέσον, ναῒ
ΦορήΜεθα σὺν Μελαίνᾳ,
ΧειΜῶνι Μοχθεῦντες Μεγάλῳ.
NOTE 98.
NOTE 100.
NOTE 101.
A. I. S. V. Pamphilus, Mysis.
This scene contains the third and last part of the narration, which
is entirely pathetic, and its length is very artificially and successfully
relieved by the figure called by the Greeks προσωποποια, which is
introduced with so many moving and pathetic graces, as afford
ample proof that Terence was as great a master of the passions, as
even Trabea, Attilius, and Cæcilius themselves, who were so highly
extolled by the ancients for their excellence in compositions of that
nature. Terence has admirably relieved the necessary length of his
narration in this play, by his judicious method of dividing it: the first
part is serious, (vide Note 65,) and raises our curiosity: the second
part is comic, (vide Note 89,) and excites our laughter; the third part
is pathetic, and moves our pity. The lines in which Pamphilus
describes the death of Chrysis are so extremely moving, that some
of the most eminent critics have considered them at least equal, if
not superior, to all attempts in the pathetic both ancient and modern.
The finest passage in M. Baron’s Andrienne is, (in my opinion,) his
imitation of the before-mentioned speech of Pamphilus: and the
inimitable beauty which so much strikes us in the French copy ought
to impress us with a just idea of the splendid merit of the Latin
original.
The whole speech is too long to be inserted here, the following
are extracts:
NOTE 103.
I shrewdly suspect that this daughter of Chremes is either
hideously ugly, or that something is amiss in her.
In the Latin aliquid monstri alunt, they breed up some monster.
This expression took its rise from the custom of exposing and
destroying monstrous and deformed children, (see Note 93) which
was required by law: therefore, those parents who resolved,
notwithstanding, to educate a child of that kind, were compelled to
do so with the utmost secrecy: hence, the phrase “alere monstrum,”
to breed up a monster, was used in Rome, to express any thing
done in great secrecy. Terence has, by no means, violated
probability, in representing Pamphilus as unacquainted with the
person of Philumena: though she had been contracted to him; as
Grecian women very seldom appeared abroad, and never, unveiled:
and it not unfrequently occurred, that the bridegroom was introduced
to the bride for the first time on the day of marriage.
NOTE 104.
She is in labour.
In the Latin, Laborat e dolore. Cooke thinks that these words
mean merely she is weighed down by grief: and argues, that if
Pamphilus had understood her words in any other sense, he would
have urged her to more haste; as he does, when she tells him that
she is going for a midwife. But laboro sometimes means to strive or
struggle, as in Ovid,
Also, in Horace,
———————“laborat
Lympha fugax trepidare.”
Od., B. II. O. 3. L. 11.
NOTE 105.
Can I suffer, that she, who has been brought up in the paths
of modesty and virtue, should be exposed to want, and,
perhaps, even to dishonour?
By the expression sinam coactum egestate ingenium immutarier?
shall I suffer her innocence to be endangered by want? I am inclined
to believe that Terence meant, the want of friends and protection,
and not poverty, because we are told afterwards, (Act IV.) that
Glycera was possessed of the property of Chrysis, which we are to
imagine, from what Crito says concerning it, to have been something
considerable. I believe egestate is often put for want of any kind. It
may appear somewhat enigmatical, that Terence should speak of the
liberal and virtuous education of Glycera, by such a person as
Chrysis was said to have been; but it is a circumstance in no wise
repugnant to the manners of the Greeks; as we see in the Eunuch in
the instance of Thais and Pamphila.
NOTE 106.
I call upon you, then, by the pledge of this hand you now
extend to me, and by the natural goodness of your
disposition.
Quod ego te per hanc dextram oro, et ingenium tuum. Some read
genium, by your genius, or by your good angel, and quote the
following passage from Horace in support of this reading:
NOTE 107.
NOTE 108.
Charinus, Byrrhia.
“These two characters were not in the works of Menander, but
were added to the fable by Terence, lest Philumena’s being left
without a husband, on the marriage of Pamphilus to Glycerium
should appear too tragical a circumstance.—Donatus.
Madame Dacier, after transcribing this remark adds, that it
appears to her to be an observation of great importance to the
theatre, and well worthy our attention.
Important as this dramatic arcanum may be, it were to be wished,
that Terence had never found it out, or, at least, that he had not
availed himself of it in the construction of the Andrian. It is plain that
the duplicity of the intrigue did not proceed from the imitation of
Menander, since these characters, on which the double plot is
founded, were not drawn from the Greek poet. Charinus and Byrrhia
are indeed but poor counterparts, or faint shadows of Pamphilus and
Davus; and, instead of adding life and vigour to the fable, rather
damp its spirit, and stop the activity of its progress. As to the tragical
circumstance of Philumena’s having no husband, it seems
something like the distress of Prince Prettyman[A], who thinks it a
matter of indifference, whether he shall appear to be the son of a
king or a fisherman, and is only uneasy lest he should be the son of
nobody at all. I am much more inclined to the opinion of an ingenious
French critic, whom I have already cited more than once, than to that
of Donatus or Madame Dacier. His comment in this underplot is as
follows:—
“It is almost impossible to conduct two intrigues at a time
without weakening the interest of both. With what address has
Terence interwoven the amours of Pamphilus and Charinus in
the Andrian! But has he done it without inconvenience? At the
beginning of the second act, do we not seem to be entering
upon a new piece? and does the fifth conclude in a very
interesting manner?”—Diderot.
It is but justice to Sir Richard Steele to confess, that he has
conducted the under-plot in the Conscious Lovers in a much more
artful and interesting manner than Terence in the play before us. The
part which Myrtle sustains (though not wholly unexceptionable,
especially the last act,) is more essential to the fable than Charinus
in the Andrian. His character also is more separated and
distinguished from Bevil, than Charinus from Pamphilus, and serves
to produce one of the best scenes[B] in the play.” Colman.
NOTE 110.
Byrrhia.—I beseech you, O Charinus, to wish for something possible,
since what you now wish for is impossible!
Terence always admirably preserves the characters of domestics,
in the style of the advice they give their masters, which is very often
conveyed in some trite adage, or formal apothegm. This is another
instance of our author’s art. Want of attention to the dialogue of the
inferior characters, is a frequent fault among dramatic writers; and
often proves hostile to the success of a piece, particularly of a
comedy, where it is absolutely essential.
NOTE 111.
NOTE 112.
Charinus.—What think you, Byrrhia, shall I speak to him?
Byrrhia.—Why not? that even if you can obtain nothing, you may
make him think, at least, that Philumena will find a pressing gallant
in you, if he marries her.
The original of these lines is the most exceptionable passage in
this play.
“C. Byrrhia,
Quid tibi videtur? Adeon’ ad eum? B. Quidni? si nihil impetres,
Ut te arbitretur sibi paratum mœchum, si illam duxerit.”
The ingenious French editor, mentioned in Note 72, has given the
following elegant and delicate turn to this objectionable passage.
“C. Byrrhia,
Quid tibi videtur? Adeon’ ad eum? B. Quidni? ut, si nihil impetres,
Te sibi cavendum credat, si illam duxerit.”
NOTE 113.
NOTE 114.
Now, if either you, or Byrrhia here, can do any thing; in Heavens
name, do it; contrive, invent, and manage, if you can, that she may
be given to you.
It does not appear that Charinus and Byrrhia set any stratagem
on foot, in compliance with the wishes of Pamphilus, to break off the
treaty between Simo and Chremes; indeed, they are rather inactive
throughout the play, and the under-plot proceeds separately from the
principal plot: this, I attribute to Terence’s close imitation of
Menander, in what respects Pamphilus’s intrigue, as the characters
of Charinus and Byrrhia were added by Terence: Menander’s play
being written with a single plot; which was doubled by our author, in
compliance with the taste of his age. It is supposed that Terence’s
reputation for art was gained chiefly by his success in combining two
intrigues in one play: a mode of dramatic writing which the Romans
in those times considered a great novelty. The Stepmother is the
only play written by Terence, in which the plot is single, and though
critics in general argue with Volcatius,
“Sumetur Hecyra sexta ex his fabula,”
that it is not equal to the rest of his productions, many persons, very
eminent for their judgment, have attributed the superiority of the
other five plays, to the advantages they possess over the
Stepmother, both in portraiture of character, and in the conduct of the
catastrophe, and of the fable in general, rather than to any additional
attraction which they can derive from a double plot. The Carin and
Byrrhie of M. Baron, are, in every respect, the counterparts of the
Charinus and Byrrhia of Terence; but Sir R. Steele has very much
enlivened the character of Charinus; his Myrtle is one of the most
entertaining personages in the piece. Vide Notes 108, 159, 162, 163.
NOTE 115.
NOTE 116.
NOTE 117.
Every thing is quite still and quiet.
Cecrops, the first king of Athens, seems to have been the reputed
founder of marriage-ceremonies among the Greeks: the Athenians
accounted it so dishonourable to grow old in a single state, that their
laws peremptorily required, that all the αὐτοκράτορες, στρατηγοὶ,
πολέμαρχοι, and ταξίαρχοι, who were the principal military officers,
also the ἄρχοντες and ἱεροφύλακες, or chief priests, as well as the
archons and other chief magistrates, should be chosen from the
married men only.
Numerous ceremonies were always performed at Grecian
marriages, many of which were performed at the house of the bride,
and in procession from it: it is exceedingly well managed by Terence,
that Davus should discover Simo’s stratagem, by finding Chremes’
house “quite still and quiet,” because the house of a bride was
generally full of noisy company. The following extracts from a learned
writer on antiquities will afford some valuable information respecting
the Greek marriages.
“The Athenian virgins were presented to Diana before it was
lawful for them to marry. This ceremony, which was performed at
Brauron, an Athenian borough, was called ἀρκτεία. There was also
another custom for virgins, when they became marriageable, to
present certain baskets, full of little curiosities, to Diana, to obtain
permission to leave her train, and to change their state of life. Indeed
we find Diana concerned in the preparatory solemnities before all
marriages; for a married state being her aversion, it was thought
necessary for all who entered upon it, to ask her pardon for
dissenting from her. The ancient Athenians paid the same honour to
Heaven and Earth, which were believed to have a particular concern
in marriages, of which they were thought a proper emblem. (Procl. in
Timæ. Platon. Comment. 5.) The fates and graces being supposed
to join, and afterwards to preserve the tie of love, were partakers of
the same respect. (Pol. lib. III. cap. 3.) Before the marriage could be
solemnized, the other gods were consulted, and their assistance
also implored by prayers and sacrifices. When the victim was
opened, the gall was taken out and thrown behind the altar, as being
the seat of anger and revenge, and therefore the aversion of all the
deities who superintended the affairs of love. The married persons,
with their attendants, were richly adorned, according to their rank.
The house, in which the nuptials were celebrated, was also
decorated with garlands. (Hierocl. in Frag. περὶ γάμον; Stob. Serm.
186, Senec. Thebaid. v. 507;) a pestle was tied upon the door, (Poll.
lib. III. cap. 3. seg. 37;) and a maid carried a sieve, (Id. ibid.) the
bride herself bearing φρύγετον, φρύγετρον, or φρύγητρον, which
was an earthen vessel, in which barley was parched, (Poll. lib. I. cap.
12. seg. 246; Hesych.) and which was intended to signify her
obligation to attend to the business of a family. The bride was usually
conducted in a chariot from her father’s to her husband’s house in
the evening. She was placed in the middle, her husband sitting on
one side, and, on the other, one of his most intimate friends, who
was called πάροχος. They were sometimes accompanied by bands
of musicians and dancers, (Hom. Il. σʹ. v. 491.) The song with which
they were entertained on the road was called ἁρμάτειον μέλος, from
ἅρμα, the coach in which they rode, and the axle-tree of which they
burned as soon as they arrived at the end of their journey; thereby
signifying that the bride was never to return to her father’s house.
The day of the bride’s leaving her father was celebrated in the
manner of a festival, which was distinct from the nuptial solemnity,
which was kept at the bride-groom’s house, and began at evening,
the usual time of the bride’s arrival.”—Robinson’s Archæologia
Græca.
NOTE 118.
because married women only were allowed to wear the stola, a large
robe which covered the person from head to foot. Matrons were
distinguished as follows, matronas appellabant, quibus stolas
habendi jus erat: those only were called matrons, whose rank
entitled them to wear the stola, (Alex. ab. Alex. lib. 5. cap. 18.) as
women of inferior rank wore the instita. The pronubæ were always
chosen from those women who had been married only once; and it
appears that a bride had several pronubæ to attend her, but only one
matrona. Terence says nullam matronam, whereas the pronubæ
were spoken of as being four or five in number. I think it not unlikely
that the first in rank of the pronubæ was chosen to preside over the
rest of the bridemaids, and to attend immediately on the person of
the bride, whence she was called matrona pronubarum, the chief of
the bridemaids. Servius thinks that matrona was used to designate a
woman who had one child: and thus distinguished from the mater-
familias who had several. But Aulus Gellius is of opinion that all
married women were called matronæ, whether they had any children
or not. Thus Ovid, speaking of Hersilia, the wife of Romulus, who
had no offspring, calls her matrona.
“O et de Latiâ, O et de gente Sabinâ
Præcipuum matrona decus; dignissima tanti”—
NOTE 119.
NOTE 120.
Besides all this, as I was returning, I met Chremes’ servant, who was
carrying home some herbs, and as many little fishes for the old
man’s supper, as might have cost an obolus.
What a supper for a man of fortune! as we must suppose
Chremes to have been, since he could give Glycera and Philumena
each a dowry of ten talents. The Athenians were remarkable, even to
a proverb, for their extreme frugality. To tell a person that he lived
ἀττικηρῶς or like an Athenian, was to tell him in other words that he
lived penuriously. The food of the common people was very coarse;
being such as they could procure at a slight expense. Mάζα, a very