A Simple, Realistic, Inexpensive Nerve Phantom

Abstract

Ultrasound‐guided nerve blocks are common techniques in several medical specialties. Phantoms are commonly used when teaching these procedures. Commercial phantoms are expensive, and most previously published “homemade” nerve phantoms have a substantial amount of posterior shadowing, making it difficult to visualize the needle posterior to the simulated nerve. We have constructed a simple and easy‐to‐make nerve block phantom using a hot dog core embedded in a gelatin–psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid fiber mixture that has little to no posterior shadowing.

Review of simulation model for education of point-of-care ultrasound using easy-to-make tools

“…Additives to increase echogenicity and opacity: To obtain an ultrasound image similar to real human tissue, surrounding materials are made by adding other substances[ 13 , 15 , 18 , 20 , 22 - 30 , 32 - 39 ]. In gelatine-based simulators, one study used coarsely ground finger millet (Eleusine coracana) flour to increase echogenicity[ 24 ].…”

“…In gelatine-based simulators, one study used coarsely ground finger millet (Eleusine coracana) flour to increase echogenicity[ 24 ]. Metamucil was added as an ingredient for echogenicity, however, there was no information of the amount of Metamucil added[ 13 , 15 , 18 , 23 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 39 ]. Lo et al[ 18 ] made a simulators of a skin abscess simulation with gelatine and sugar-free Metamucil.…”

“…Regional nerve blocks: The nerve block simulators were made by various materials to simulate nerves such as metal rods[ 54 ], wooden dowels[ 55 ], electrical wire[ 55 ], shoelaces[ 17 ], yarns[ 31 ], Computer Aided Translation 5 Ethernet cables[ 56 ], spaghetti noodles[ 57 ], and straw embedded hot-dogs[ 39 ]. Sparks et al[ 56 ] made a nerve block simulator using pressure-injected ultrasound gel with a Computer Aided Translation 5 Ethernet cable representing a nerve.…”

“…Situ-LaCasse et al[ 58 ] used a nerve simulator that was created by inserting angel hair pasta into long balloons and filling them with a dash of water to educate medical students in ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block procedures. Previous research models had the disadvantage of having posterior shadowing, so it was hard to confirm the needle tip behind “the nerve”[ 39 ]. Rathbun et al[ 39 ] created a realistic nerve block simulator with minimal posterior acoustic shadowing compared to previous simulators.…”

Ultrasound‐guided treatment of peripheral entrapment mononeuropathies

“…Practicing on cadavers or phantoms (commercial or homemade objects that replicate human tissues) may be helpful before performing the procedures on live patients. Low‐cost nerve block models have been developed, and a compendium of easy‐to‐make and low‐cost phantoms using common items in the community and health‐care facilities may be helpful for the interested reader (https://www.ultrasoundtraining.com.au/foamus/diy-phantom-compendium). When performing in‐plane US‐guided interventions, positioning the patient and the operator in “a line‐of‐sight approach,” where the operator's eyes are lined up with the shaft of the needle, the short axis of the US probe, and the US machine (Fig.…”