An affordable and optimized 3D biomodel for sinonasal surgery training

To develop and evaluate the anatomical accuracy and haptic fidelity of an affordable kit consisting of a silicone head, a foam support, and a 3D-printed biomodel of the paranasal sinuses for surgical training.

This single-center, technological, and interventional study detailed the development of a human sinus biomodel. Its anatomical and haptic evaluation was conducted by ten senior rhinologists, who performed 37 standard surgical tasks. Participants rated similarity to fresh cadaveric dissection on a 5-point Likert scale. Computed tomographic images were converted into a standard tessellation file through a combination of automatic and manual segmentation. This file was then used in a 3D printer to create the biomodel, which was customized with a red silicone coating to emulate mucosa, as well as silicone-insulated wire and acrylic yarn to simulate arteries and nerves. The model was mounted onto a silicone head and foam support, with a total production cost of US$ 43.37.

The similarity of anatomic landmarks scored a mean above 4.0 ± SD on both sides. The lacrimal bone drilling/debulking procedure was somewhat suboptimal for exposing the lacrimal sac, scoring a mean of 3.1 ± 1.04 on the left side but 4.3 ± 0.64 on the right. Likewise, uncinectomy was rated 3.4 ± 1.02 on the left and 3.7 ± 0.90 on the right, while the periorbit incision received scores of 3.5 ± 0.92 on the left and 4.5 ± 0.50 on the right. All other steps received ratings above 4.0 ± SD.

This study presents a fully reproducible and cost-effective method for constructing a 3D sinus biomodel. The model demonstrated high anatomical and haptic fidelity, as validated by senior rhinologists, making it a valuable tool for surgical training in sinonasal procedures.

This study provides Level 2 evidence.