What happens in the ST3 plastics clinical station?

A consultant plastic surgeon gives you a clinical case and works you through it — from your initial assessment, to investigations, to initial and definitive management. There are two clinical scenarios of five minutes each, on distinct topics. A twist (new information or a deterioration) may be added to test how you adapt.

What do examiners assess in the clinical station?

A safe, systematic approach: recognising urgency, assessing methodically, ordering sensible investigations, and giving a clear management plan. Safety is decisive — a missed emergency, an unsafe plan, or failing to escalate caps the mark at 0–1 regardless of the rest.

How do I prepare for the clinical scenarios?

Rehearse cases out loud, under the 5-minute clock, using a consistent structure (assessment → investigations → management before/during/after → rehabilitation and follow-up). Know the emergencies cold, and practise escalating clearly.

The ST3 Plastics Clinical Scenario Station

The clinical scenario station is part of the 10-minute clinical block in the ST3 Plastic Surgery interview: two five-minute cases, on distinct topics, where a consultant plastic surgeon works you through a patient from first assessment to definitive plan. It is where your safety, structure, and clinical reasoning are tested most directly.

How the station runs

The examiner sets the scene with a short case stem, then asks one question at a time, stopping and waiting for your answer. They stay deliberately neutral — they will acknowledge you (“Right.” / “Go on.”) but will not confirm whether you are correct, and they will not teach during the station. If you skip a step, they may redirect you; if you propose something unsafe, they may ask a neutral “Are you sure about that approach?” rather than correcting you. Part-way through, a twist may be introduced — a deterioration, a new result — to see whether you can change your plan under pressure.

What examiners are looking for

Safety first. Recognise the emergency, resuscitate, and escalate before anything else. Unsafe answers cap the score at 0–1.
A systematic approach. History → examination → investigations → management (before, during, after) → rehabilitation and follow-up — rather than jumping to the operation.
The right frameworks. ATLS for trauma, EMSB/Parkland for burns, and the reconstructive ladder for defect coverage.
Guideline awareness. Knowing the relevant standards (for example BAD margins in skin cancer, BSSH for hand injuries, LRINEC and Sepsis Six in necrotising fasciitis) signals depth.

Common topics

The two cases are drawn from across the plastics curriculum. Prioritise the emergencies, then breadth:

Emergencies: necrotising fasciitis, compartment syndrome, high-pressure injection injury, extravasation, free-flap compromise.
Hand trauma: flexor tendon injury, replantation, fingertip amputation, nerve injury.
Burns: acute assessment, inhalation injury, escharotomy.
Skin cancer: BCC, SCC, melanoma, Marjolin’s ulcer, sentinel lymph node biopsy.

How to prepare

Rehearse whole cases out loud on a five-minute timer, always closing the loop from presentation to definitive plan and follow-up. Drill the emergencies until the safe first steps are automatic, and practise escalating clearly. You can rehearse the clinical station with an AI examiner on Reviva — same format, same clock, scored against the marking criteria.

Frequently asked questions

What happens in the ST3 plastics clinical station?: A consultant plastic surgeon gives you a clinical case and works you through it — from your initial assessment, to investigations, to initial and definitive management. There are two clinical scenarios of five minutes each, on distinct topics. A twist (new information or a deterioration) may be added to test how you adapt.
What do examiners assess in the clinical station?: A safe, systematic approach: recognising urgency, assessing methodically, ordering sensible investigations, and giving a clear management plan. Safety is decisive — a missed emergency, an unsafe plan, or failing to escalate caps the mark at 0–1 regardless of the rest.
How do I prepare for the clinical scenarios?: Rehearse cases out loud, under the 5-minute clock, using a consistent structure (assessment → investigations → management before/during/after → rehabilitation and follow-up). Know the emergencies cold, and practise escalating clearly.

Sources. Based on the ST3 Plastic Surgery selection format modelled by Reviva and the national selection marking scheme. Educational only — confirm the current format against the official national recruitment portal.