Overview
This unit is designed to advance your clinical practice in the field of musculoskeletal ultrasound of the lower body. You will deepen your knowledge and understanding of sonographic anatomy, pathophysiology and dynamic function of the musculoskeletal systems in the lower body. You will appreciate the role of ultrasound in clinical assessment, diagnosis, patient management and treatment, including interventional procedures. To successfully complete this unit you will need access to musculoskeletal ultrasound examinations in the clinical context. This unit includes an optional residential school comprising practical training in advanced lower body musculoskeletal ultrasound.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2017
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Residential Schools
This unit has a Optional Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from student feedback
Good communication throughout the term
continue with weekly emails to keep students on track
- Analyse sonographic anatomy and appearances of normal and pathological musculoskeletal structures of the lower body
- Research the role of ultrasound in the clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a patient.
This masters unit does not lead to entry into the sonography profession but is rather provided to qualified practitioners to allow advanced practice. Therefore it does not require external accreditation. The Master of Medical Ultrasound qualifies as Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activity (activity code 10B) recognised by the Australian Sonographers Accreditaion Registry (ASAR).
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 50% | ||
| 2 - Online Test - 50% | ||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | ||
| 2 - Communication | ||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||
| 4 - Research | ||
| 5 - Self-management | ||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||
| 7 - Leadership | ||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 50% | ||||||||
| 2 - Online Test - 50% | ||||||||
Textbooks
Ultrasound of the Musculoskeletal system
Edition: 1 (2007)
Authors: Stefano Bianchi and Carlo Martinoli
Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
New York New York , New York , USA
ISBN: ISBN-13:978-3540422679
Binding: Hardcover
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
m.fenech@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Advanced MSK ultrasound - Lower body
Chapter
Introductory lectures and lectures about assessment items, notes
Chapters 1 - 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Abdominal and pelvic muscles
Chapter
Lectures and notes
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial - Monday 17th July, 7 pm (AEST) via zoom
Module/Topic
Groin
Chapter
Lectures and notes
Chapter 12 of text.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Hip, buttocks and adductors
Chapter
Lectures and notes
Chapter 12 of text.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial Monday 31st July, 7 pm (AEST) via zoom
Module/Topic
Hamstrings
Chapter
Lectures and notes
Chapter 13 of text.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Thigh
Chapter
Lectures and notes
Chapter 13 of text.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial Monday 21st August, 7 pm (AEST) via zoom
Module/Topic
Knee
Chapter
Lectures and notes
Chapter 14 of text.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Calf
Chapter
Lectures and notes
Chapter 15 of text.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial Monday 4th September, 7 pm (AEST) via zoom
Written paper Due: Week 8 Friday (8 Sept 2017) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Ankle
Chapter
Lectures and notes
Chapter 16 of text.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Foot
Chapter
Lectures and notes
Chapter 17 of text.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial Monday 18th September, 7 pm (AEST) via zoom
Module/Topic
Interventional techniques and revision
Chapter
Lectures and notes
Chapter 18 of text.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Revision and online test
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
The unit coordinator for MEDS20006 is Michelle Fenech who is based on the Brisbane campus. The best way to contact Michelle is via email: m.fenech@cqu.edu.au. You may also phone: 07 3295 1180, however some days she is in ultrasound labs on the Brisbane campus. If not available, please leave a message or email for her to return your call.
Access to the internet is required to undertake this unit, as unit materials, tutorials and updates will be provided via Moodle, email and zoom. It is important to check your student CQU student emails regularly as emails will be sent each week to keep you on track, and if supplementary material is required, this will be available on Moodle and emails will be sent to you to let you know if any changes have been made. We are using the prescribed text to supplement lecture content. There is an e-book copy of this text.
Tutorials are scheduled throughout the term. These will be undertaken via zoom. Please note these are scheduled for QLD AEST times. If there is something you would like discussed at the tutorials, please email in advance so we can allow time for your topic to be discussed.
You need to ensure that you are available at some stage to undertake the online test in week 12 (test will be open from the Tuesday 3rd October at 9 am in week 12 and stay open until Tuesday 10th October at 9 am the following week). You will require internet access to undertake this test.
1 Written Assessment
Either a case report OR an education paper is to be written (choose one). Length 2500 words (as well as an unstructured abstract up to 200 words).
Case report: After undertaking an appropriate musculoskeletal ultrasound examination, a written case report on a lower body musculoskeletal ultrasound examination that demonstrates a particular musculoskeletal pathology/injury is to be produced. The topic must be clinically relevant and the case report must provide background information including a discussion on the anatomy and the associated pathology/injury. The case report must outline the role of ultrasound in the process of diagnosis. The presenting clinical symptoms, clinical and diagnostic testing and management of the pathology or injury, including potential interventional procedures if relevant is to be discussed. Expected patient outcomes and quality improvements that could be considered in the future must be included.
Educational paper: A written educational paper that clearly discusses the sonographic examination of a specific lower body musculoskeletal region is to be produced. The anatomy, sonographic appearance of normal structures, discussion of why the examination may be undertaken and pathology that may be encountered in the region should be included. You are required to have researched, analysed, critically reflected on and synthesized current medical literature.
Week 8 Friday (8 Sept 2017) 9:00 am AEST
Week 10 Friday (22 Sept 2017)
For both case report and educational paper:
The paper must include a title, unstructured abstract, five keywords, introduction, body (with sub-headings), conclusion and reference list.
The paper should be written at a level suitable for publication in a suitable peer reviewed journal. You must state which journal you potentially wish to publish your paper in, under the title.
The paper should be interesting and add to body of knowledge in the medical sonography discipline to allow for an enhancement of patient care through evidence-based practice.
A review of current literature needs to be performed to allow current knowledge gaps to be identified.
The paper should be organised, logical and coherent with a clear message. It should be proof read and edited ensuring accurate spelling and grammar and appropriate vocabulary for the target audience.
The anatomy of structures should be clearly discussed with original and well labelled diagrams, and the pathophysiology clearly explained.
Representative ultrasound images must be included and must be original and de-identified with structures demonstrated on ultrasound images clearly explained.
- Analyse sonographic anatomy and appearances of normal and pathological musculoskeletal structures of the lower body
- Research the role of ultrasound in the clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment of a patient.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
2 Online Test
An online test will be conducted to assess your understanding of content in this unit. The test will be online and accessed through the assessment tab on Moodle and will comprise of 10 questions which will require written answers. The test will be open for 1.5 hours (allowing 9 minutes per question) and only one attempt is allowed.
As the test is online and open book, you will find it useful if you have produced your own notes from the lectures and that you are familiar with the unit information. You cannot afford to spend time searching for information (either in texts, notes or online) to assist you in providing your answer.
Review/Exam Week Tuesday (10 Oct 2017) 9:00 am AEST
Exam Week Friday (20 Oct 2017)
The test will be open from Tuesday 3rd October at 9 am (in week 12) and will shut on Tuesday 10th October at 9 am. You will need to allocate a continuous 90 minute period throughout the time the test is open to complete the test. Please note: You must start the test before Tuesday 10th October 7.15 am as the test will close at 9 am Tuesday 10th October.
Once started the test cannot be paused, stopped or re-started. Once you have completed the test, it cannot be re-taken. Questions will be drawn from a pool of questions to allow tests to be different for each student. Image viewing questions may be included and you are required to be familiar with normal and pathological sonographic imaging of the areas discussed in this unit.
Each question is worth 10 marks (giving a total of 100 marks available).
- Analyse sonographic anatomy and appearances of normal and pathological musculoskeletal structures of the lower body
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
