Approximately 1,000 high school students from around the world watched a live surgery in Winnipeg on Monday. The surgery was streamed from the operating room of the Pan Am Clinic in Winnipeg.
A doctor worked on a 29-year-old man with an ACL injury. It's a common injury for players in soccer, basketball and football.
About 80 students from Sisler High School in Winnipeg gathered Monday morning to watch the reconstructive knee surgery streamed. Sisler students said they found it an interesting learning experience and a good chance to learn outside of the classroom.
Teachers at Sisler hope to repeat the opportunity again in the future.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said this is the second time the clinic has done a live surgery and the first time it's gone global.
Last year, the surgery was streamed live to schools in Manitoba. This year, students in countries as far away as Taiwan in Asia and Lesotho in Africa watched and had the opportunity to ask questions and engage with the medical team performing the surgery. In Lesotho, students had to leave early as they needed to walk 21 km to get to and from school.
One student from Taiwan asked if ACL injuries can be linked to genetics. Doctors said there could be a connection. About 20 students from Taiwan watched and slept at the school because of the time difference.
- with a report from Beth Macdonell
