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Table 1 A summary of the main simulation modalities available to orthopaedic surgery trainees

From: Surgical skills simulation in trauma and orthopaedic training

Simulation model

Advantages

Disadvantages

Cadaveric simulation

 

Expensive

High fidelity

Not easily accessible with specialist storage demands

 

Time-consuming preparation time

Shown to develop transferable operative skills

Relies on tissue donation

 

Risk of disease transmission

Allows understanding of relevant clinical anatomy and surgical approaches

Lack of uniformity amongst specimens

Synthetic bone simulation

Relatively inexpensive, portable and widely available

 

Widely available

Does not allow understanding of influence of soft tissues

Develop understanding and familiarity with orthopaedic instruments and equipment

Lack of true haptic feedback

Arthroscopic simulation

Able to record progress and assess motion analysis

 

Allows for development of hand-eye co-ordination and triangulation

High initial setup costs

Wide range of procedures may be possible

Limited realism

Modern simulators can provide haptic feedback

 

Virtual reality simulation

Able to record progress and assess motion analysis

 

Wide range of procedures may be possible

High initial setup costs

Allows for scenario simulation

 

Cognitive simulation

Potentially cost free

Limited evidence to support use in clinical training/improvement in technical procedural skills

Accessible on mobile devices

 

Point of care education

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