A Multimodal Approach to Lateral Canthotomy and Cantholysis Training for Emergency Medicine Trainees: A Simulation...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine Simulation

Background:

• Orbital compartment syndrome (OCS) is rare, leading to limited training opportunities and low procedural confidence among emergency medicine residents.
• Existing training models for lateral canthotomy and cantholysis (LCC) are often not reproducible or adaptable across institutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and test a multimodal, low-fidelity simulation package to improve emergency medicine trainees' confidence and competence in recognizing and managing OCS.
• To provide a cost-effective and reproducible training solution for a critical, sight-saving procedure.

Main Methods:

• A multimodal training approach combining presentations, instructional videos, gamified quizzes, and hands-on practice with low-fidelity models was developed.
• Participants (emergency medicine trainees) completed pre- and post-training assessments of confidence and competence using Likert scales.
• Paired t-tests were used for statistical analysis of confidence and competence scores.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in theoretical knowledge (mean score 5.0 to 8.7) and procedural competence (mean score 4.1 to 8.9) (p < 0.0001).
• All educational components received high ratings (8.7-10 on a 10-point scale).
• Trainees supported annual delivery of the training, highlighting the value of practical simulation.

Conclusions:

• The multimodal simulation package significantly enhances emergency medicine trainees' confidence and competence in managing OCS.
• The developed low-fidelity model and training approach are reproducible, cost-effective, and scalable for widespread use in medical education.