PurposeThe progressive expansion of the technology that facilitates the development of three-dimensional (3D) printing within the field of otorhinolaryngology has opened up a new study front in medicine. The objective of this study is to systematically review scientific publications describing the development of 3D models having applications in otorhinolaryngology, with emphasis on subareas with a large number of publications, as well as the countries in which the publications are concentrated. Methods In this literature review, specific criteria were used to search for publications on 3D models. The review considered articles published in English on the development of 3D models to teach otorhinolaryngology. The studies with presurgical purposes or without validation of the task by surgeons were excluded from this review. Results This review considered 39 articles published in 10 countries between 2012 and 2021. The works published prior to 2012 were not considered as per the inclusion criteria for the research. Among the 39 simulators selected for review, otology models comprised a total of 15 publications (38%); they were followed by rhinology, with 12 (31%); laryngology, with 8 (21%); and head and neck surgery, with 4 publications (10%). Conclusion The use of 3D technology and printing is well established in the context of surgical education and simulation models. The importance of developing new technological tools to enhance 3D printing and the current limitations in obtaining appropriate animal and cadaver models signify the necessity of investing more in 3D models.

Objective: This study aimed to describe our experience with the retrolabyrinthine or infralabyrinthine approach in acoustic neuroma surgery, and to discuss its advantages, limitations, complications, and the outcomes of hearing and facial function preservation. Study Design: This study was a retrospective analysis of all acoustic neuroma cases, operated with a retrolabyrinthine approach in our hospital. Setting: This study was conducted at a tertiary university hospital. Patients: In total, 189 patients underwent hearing preservation and acoustic neuroma surgery, operated through the retrolabyrinthine approach, in our department. The average age was 43.6 years; there were 105 women and 84 men. All patients had unilateral tumors, 99 occurring in the right ear and 90 in the left ear. Intervention: A retrolabyrinthine approach was performed in all 189 patients to remove vestibular schwannoma. Main Outcome Measures: All tumors graded I and II using Koos tumor grading with serviceable hearing when the speech reception threshold (SRT) was better than 50 dB, and word recognition scores of 50% or higher. Results: Considering the 189 patients, good exposure of the internal auditory canal was possible in all patients, with total removal of the tumor in all patients, even though it was necessary to sacrifice the posterior canal in 12 of the cases, all classified as Koss II. Hearing was preserved in 49.73% of patients; 1% had permanent grade II House–Brackmann facial paralysis. Conclusions: The retrolabyrinthine approach showed security during facial nerve manipulation, small chance of morbidity, and good proportion of hearing preservation when tumor are up to Koss I and II classification.

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