The 3-Dimensional Temporal Bone Dissection Manual: Operable Stepwise Models for Teaching Otologic Surgery.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Simulation
• 3D Printing in Medicine

Background:

• Traditional surgical textbooks rely on 2D illustrations, posing challenges for novice surgeons translating them to 3D surgical procedures.
• The complexity of interpreting 2D surgical guides into 3D operative steps hinders effective surgical skill acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop operable, patient-specific 3D-printed models that illustrate surgical progression in three dimensions.
• To enable surgical trainees to master the final, critical steps of an operation first through hands-on practice.

Main Methods:

• Five identical 3D-printed temporal bone models were utilized for stepwise mastoidectomy simulations.
• Each model represented a distinct stage of the mastoidectomy procedure.
• Computed tomography (CT) scanning of the drilled models generated data for creating 3D copies of each surgical step.

Main Results:

• The study successfully created, scanned, and replicated stepwise, operable 3D-printed models of temporal bone surgery.
• These models serve as reproducible 3D dissection guides for surgical trainees.
• Trainees can repeatedly practice the mastoidectomy on these models in any sequence.

Conclusions:

• This research pioneers the creation of patient-specific, 3D-printed surgical models for enhanced training.
• The developed models offer a novel approach to surgical education, improving spatial understanding and procedural mastery.
• This method facilitates repeated, hands-on practice, allowing trainees to gain proficiency in complex surgical steps.