Spine, Shoulders, Knees, and Growths: Osteoarthritis and Neoplasms in a Body Donor

Faculty Mentor

Rachel Koshi

Location

Savannah Ballroom

Type of Research

On-going

Session Format

Poster Presentation

College

Medical College of Georgia - Savannah Campus

Department

n/a

Abstract

Osteoarthritis affects 595 million people worldwide (7.6%) with prevalence increasing with age. The most common surgical intervention for this is joint replacement, with approximately 7 million Americans currently living with hip or knee replacements. This case study presents an 85-year-old female cadaver with several joint replacements, as well as soft tissue masses and vertebral osteophytes discovered on routine dissection. This study was conducted at the Medical College of Georgia in Savannah, GA, in the anatomy lab by a group of preclerkship students. Following standard dissection procedures, joint replacements were discovered in the right shoulder and bilateral knees, with one knee retaining the native patella. Within the retroperitoneal space, two well-circumscribed, soft-tissue masses were discovered on the inferior portion of the left kidney. Additionally, continuous vertebral osteophytes were present in the thoracic and lumbar vertebral column. These findings tell a story of functional decline that affected our cadaver for many years and hint at a diagnosis of Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH). While most patients are asymptomatic, DISH, a prevalent but seldom-discussed condition, can lead to a significant reduction in joint range of motion and contribute to functional decline of patients. Visualizing these changes in a cadaver not only expands pathological anatomy knowledge but also contributes to medical education as a whole by connecting discrete disease processes with real clinical conditions and their effects on the daily lives of patients.

Program Description

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Start Date

4-21-2026 1:30 PM

End Date

4-21-2026 3:30 PM

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Apr 21st, 1:30 PM Apr 21st, 3:30 PM

Spine, Shoulders, Knees, and Growths: Osteoarthritis and Neoplasms in a Body Donor

Savannah Ballroom

Osteoarthritis affects 595 million people worldwide (7.6%) with prevalence increasing with age. The most common surgical intervention for this is joint replacement, with approximately 7 million Americans currently living with hip or knee replacements. This case study presents an 85-year-old female cadaver with several joint replacements, as well as soft tissue masses and vertebral osteophytes discovered on routine dissection. This study was conducted at the Medical College of Georgia in Savannah, GA, in the anatomy lab by a group of preclerkship students. Following standard dissection procedures, joint replacements were discovered in the right shoulder and bilateral knees, with one knee retaining the native patella. Within the retroperitoneal space, two well-circumscribed, soft-tissue masses were discovered on the inferior portion of the left kidney. Additionally, continuous vertebral osteophytes were present in the thoracic and lumbar vertebral column. These findings tell a story of functional decline that affected our cadaver for many years and hint at a diagnosis of Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH). While most patients are asymptomatic, DISH, a prevalent but seldom-discussed condition, can lead to a significant reduction in joint range of motion and contribute to functional decline of patients. Visualizing these changes in a cadaver not only expands pathological anatomy knowledge but also contributes to medical education as a whole by connecting discrete disease processes with real clinical conditions and their effects on the daily lives of patients.