South West Cadaveric Upper Limb Course
10–12 June 2026
We are pleased to invite you to the South West Cadaveric Upper Limb Course 2026. Following exceptional feedback over recent years, the course has been expanded to include an additional day, enhancing both the depth and quality of teaching delivered.
Our aim has always been to maximise delegates’ time in the cadaveric laboratory. Previously, this was limited by time pressures. The addition of a third day represents a significant improvement, allowing increased hands-on dissection alongside dedicated classroom-based, case-focused discussion led by an experienced faculty.
Days 1 and 2 focus on Hand, Wrist and Peripheral Nerve Surgery, while Days 2 and 3 cover the Shoulder Girdle, Humerus and Elbow.
There is a crossover on Day 2, during which both courses run simultaneously. Attendance across all three days is possible; however, this would require either missing the afternoon hand and wrist classroom session or some laboratory time during the shoulder and elbow course. Delegates interested in attending all three days are encouraged to contact us for further information.
Hand, Wrist and Peripheral Nerve
Days 1 & 2
This course is aimed at junior consultants, hand surgery fellows, and senior orthopaedic or plastic surgery trainees aspiring to a career in hand surgery.
Day 1 consists of intensive cadaveric laboratory teaching, followed by a course dinner attended by delegates and faculty.
On Day 2, delegates return to the laboratory until midday before moving to the lecture theatre for case-based discussions designed to consolidate learning. Faculty will present challenging cases, providing practical insights applicable to future clinical practice. Demonstrations will include the use of custom osteotomy guides, management of interosseous membrane injury and reconstruction, complex trauma, and nerve reconstruction techniques.
Shoulder and Elbow
Days 2 & 3
This course is aimed at senior orthopaedic trainees and fellows seeking to develop a thorough understanding of upper limb surgical approaches and the management of shoulder and elbow pathology.
Day 2 begins in the lecture theatre, covering the theoretical basis of relevant surgical approaches, before progressing to the cadaveric laboratory after lunch. A course dinner for delegates and faculty follows at the end of the day.
Day 3 consists of a full day of cadaveric laboratory teaching.
Day 1 & 2 – Hand, Wrist and Peripheral Nerve
Faculty
• Mr Oliver Stone – Consultant Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon, Exeter
• Miss Nicola Fine – Consultant Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon, Exeter
• Miss Sabina Barbur – Consultant Orthopaedic Upper Limb Surgeon, Exeter
• Mr Dominic Power – Consultant Peripheral Nerve Surgeon, Birmingham
• Miss Paulina Witt – Consultant Plastic Hand Surgeon, Exeter
• Mr Patrick Gillespie – Consultant Plastic Hand Surgeon, Exeter
• Mr John Hardman – Consultant Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon, Torbay/Exeter
• Mr Matthew Chan – Consultant Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon, Torbay/Exeter
• Mr Anthony Gough – Consultant Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon, Taunton
Course Aim
This two-day course is designed for junior consultants, current hand surgery fellows, and senior trainees planning a career in hand surgery. Delegates will explore less common and more complex nerve decompressions and learn the principles of nerve repair, nerve grafting, and tendon transfer surgery.
Participants will also gain experience with dorsal approaches to the wrist and the management of wrist arthritis. Sessions on base of thumb arthritis will include thumb CMC denervation as well as trapeziectomy and suspensionplasty. Instruction will be provided on silastic MCPJ and PIPJ arthroplasty, along with techniques for soft tissue coverage using local hand flaps.
The course concludes with a faculty-supervised surgical simulation challenge, in which delegates will be presented with a problem-solving task using the available instrumentation. A course dinner and classroom-based complex case discussions are included.
Course Content
• Posterior interosseous nerve decompression
• Wrist denervation
• EIP to EPL tendon transfer
• Lacertus syndrome
• Guyon’s canal release
• Nerve repair, nerve wrapping (Axoguard), and nerve allograft (Axogen)
• Dorsal wrist approach
• Scaphoidectomy and four-corner fusion / proximal row carpectomy
• Thumb CMC denervation
• Trapeziectomy and suspensionplasty
• Thumb UCL repair
• MCPJ and PIPJ silastic joint replacement
• Common finger flaps
• Mystery simulation session
Day 2 & 3 – Shoulder Girdle, Humerus and Elbow
Faculty
• Mr William Thomas – Consultant Orthopaedic Upper Limb Surgeon, Exeter
• Mr Christopher Smith – Consultant Orthopaedic Upper Limb Surgeon, Exeter
• Mr Jonathan Evans – Consultant Orthopaedic Upper Limb Surgeon, Exeter
• Miss Sabina Barbur – Consultant Orthopaedic Upper Limb Surgeon, Exeter
• Mr Matt Howard – Shoulder and Elbow Fellow, Exeter
Course Aim
Day 2 provides an opportunity for surgeons operating on the shoulder girdle and elbow to explore surgical anatomy and identify structures at risk in both elective and trauma surgery. With two delegates per cadaver, participants will have ample time to practise a wide range of approaches under the supervision of experienced faculty.
By the end of the course, delegates will have a comprehensive understanding of available surgical approaches and the rationale underpinning approach selection.
Course Content
• Clavicle approach: mid-shaft osteotomy, neurovascular identification, clavicle plating and Acusinch
• Deltopectoral approach (“The Exeter Way”): quadrilateral space dissection, distal clavicle osteotomy, anterior glenoid bone block, coracoid osteotomy, neurovascular identification, latissimus dorsi transfer
• Anterolateral approach: musculocutaneous and radial nerve identification
• Posterior approach: posterior scapular plating
• Lateral elbow approach: capitellar shear fractures, radial head arthroplasty, LUCL management
• Medial elbow approach: coronoid plating
• Posterior elbow approach: ulnar and radial nerve identification, triceps-on distal humeral plating, olecranon osteotomy and fixation
• Anterior elbow approach: neurovascular identification
Course Fees and Application
The course fee is £400 per delegate per two-day course, which includes lunch and the course dinner.
To apply, please email
• which course you wish to attend, and • whether you will attend the evening meal.
Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited to 22 delegates per day.
Course Venue
Vesalius Clinical Training Centre
University of Bristol
Beacon House
Queens Road
Bristol
BS8 1U
Dinner Venue
The Coconut Tree
Clifton Triangle
2 Byron Place
Bristol
BS8 1JT
A special thank you to our sponsors
