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