A New Model for Basic Microsurgical Nerve Repair Simulation: Making the Most Out of Less

Abstract

Microsurgical peripheral nerve repair is a technical and challenging procedure that requires thorough training prior to a real-life operating theater scenario. While the gold standard in training remains training on biological living peripheral nerve specimen, various inanimate models of nerve repair simulation have been described in the past years.The textile elastic band (TEB) obtained from a surgical mask was either covered with a fine silicone sheath or was left bare and was used afterward for end-to-end coaptation.The average diameter of the TEB was 2 mm, similar with the nerves in the distal hand and can be easily crafted out of accessible materials such as a surgical mask and silicone sealant. The silicone that covers the TEB offers more fidelity to the simulation for microsurgical nerve coaptation.The TEB model offers an affordable, available, and easy-to-craft alternative to the existing models for peripheral nerve repair simulation and serves as a good initiation tool before moving on to biological specimens.