Development of a novel 3D-printed and silicone live-wire model for thyroidectomy

Area of Science:

• Medical Simulation
• Surgical Education
• Anatomy Training

Background:

• Thyroidectomy demands extensive practice for surgical competence.
• Current training methods may lack sufficient repetition and fidelity.
• Developing cost-effective, high-fidelity simulators is crucial for surgical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an innovative, low-cost thyroidectomy simulator.
• To provide surgeons, particularly early in their careers, with a high-fidelity practice tool.
• To enhance surgical skill acquisition through repeated practice in a simulated environment.

Main Methods:

• A 3D-printed laryngeal and tracheal framework with silicone components for anatomical realism.
• Incorporation of a copper wire recurrent laryngeal nerve model with a buzzer for tactile feedback.
• Validation through simulated thyroidectomy by 13 residents, followed by Likert scale surveys and performance checklists.

Main Results:

• High participant satisfaction with recurrent nerve realism (4.46) and buzzer feedback (4.69).
• Areas for improvement identified in soft tissue realism (skin 3.08, thyroid 3.31).
• Significant increase in confidence reported by all participants, particularly junior residents (p=0.016).

Conclusions:

• The low-cost simulator effectively enhances surgeon confidence and familiarity with thyroidectomy procedures.
• Early use of this simulator can improve the educational impact of live surgical experiences.
• The model offers a valuable, repeatable training solution for surgical residents.