End User Comparison of Anatomically Matched 3-Dimensional Printed and Virtual Haptic Temporal Bone Simulation: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: Simulation has assumed a prominent role in education. It is important to explore the effectiveness of different modalities. In this article, we directly compare surgical resident impression of 2 distinct temporal bone simulations (physical and haptic). STUDY DESIGN: Research Ethics Board-approved prospective cohort study. SETTING: A haptic voxel-based virtual model (VM) and a physical 3-dimensional printed temporal bone model (PBM) were developed. Participants rated each construct on a number of parameters and performed a direct comparison of the simulations using a survey instrument that employed a 7-point Likert scale and rank lists. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ten otolaryngology residents dissected anatomically identical, matched physical and virtual models. Data for both simulations originated from 10 unique cadaveric micro-computed tomography images. RESULTS: Subjects rated the PBM drill quality as being more similar to cadaveric temporal bone than the VM (cortical bone mean: 5.5 vs 3.2, P = .011; trabecular bone mean: 5.2 vs 2.8, P = .004) and with better air cell system representation (mean: 5.4 vs 4.5, P = .003). Subjects strongly agreed that both simulations are effective educational tools, but they rated the PBM higher (mean: 6.7 vs 5.4, P = .019). Notably, subjects agreed that both modalities should be integrated into training, but they were more favorably inclined toward the PBM (mean: 7.0 vs 5.5, P = .002). In direct comparison, the PBM was the preferred simulation in 7 of 9 educational domains. CONCLUSIONS: Appraisal of a PBM and a VM found both to have perceived educational benefit. However, the PBM was considered to have more realistic physical properties and was considered the preferred training instrument.