Emergency Techniques in Orthopedic Traumatology with Clinical Director Dr. Michael Klein

Hamburg/Lüdenscheid
UMCH is delighted to welcome Dr. Michael Klein, Clinical Director and Head of the Center for Injury Care, Intensive and Emergency Medicine at the Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Klinikum Lüdenscheid, for a three-day campus visit. As a renowned expert in his field, Dr. Klein brings not only his extensive professional expertise but also his passion for medical education, inspiring all who meet him.

On the first day of his visit, Dr. Klein gave an engaging lecture as part of the “Reach Higher” series, titled “Career Planning – How to Reach Higher in Medicine.” He presented four key guiding principles to the approximately 130 students in attendance, which left a lasting impression: “Have a plan, find a mentor, think big, be in motion.” With these motivating principles, he challenged the students to approach their career planning with purpose and ambition.

Following the lecture, Dr. Klein led an elective course for fifth-year students. The two-day intensive course, titled “Emergency Techniques in Orthopaedic Trauma,” focused on life-saving measures for trauma cases. A special emphasis was placed on hands-on exercises, where students, under Dr. Klein’s guidance, simulated realistic emergency situations. Innovative teaching methods were used, such as the use of coconuts to represent the human skull, helping students better understand certain surgical procedures.

During the course, students learned essential techniques such as skull opening (trepanation), intubation (endotracheal intubation), and inserting a chest drain to remove air or fluids (thoracic drainage). Advanced techniques, such as a specialized emergency operation on the chest (clamshell thoracotomy), were also covered. On the second day, participants learned how to administer fluids directly into the bone (intraosseous fluid administration) and how to control bleeding in the pelvis.

Dr. Klein’s excellent teaching style successfully bridged theory and practice, providing the students with a unique learning experience. His visit to UMCH not only sparked great interest in future events but also provided the participants with valuable insights for their medical careers.