A Novel 3D Model for Training on Basics of Cleft Palate Surgery: Development and Validation Study

Abstract
Background: Plastic surgery is considered one of the unique surgical specialties as any minimal surgical inaccuracy may cause affection of the final outcome, so simulation technology, which considered the future of plastic surgery education, should be introduced for surgical skills and knowledge transfer. Training programs have been changed to be performed in surgical skills laboratories rather than surgical theaters, in which, trainee can gain surgical skills by using training models. These laboratories have been settled not to replace the operating theater experience, but to supplement it.Aim of the study: is to develop a bench model for training on all crucial basic steps in cleft palate surgery, and to validate this model regarding its educational effectiveness and its ability to transfer operative skills from the bench in the skills lab to real life in operative theaters. Material and Methods: A life-size bench model of cleft palate was customized with respect to actual size and anatomy of tissues at 18 month of age. The study period was 6 months, it entails comparing performance and operative timing of two groups of plastic surgery trainees performing primary repair of isolated cleft palate in theatre. Our model was delivered to group II only before real surgical assessment. Intraoperative evaluation of both groups of surgeons was done using the Global Rating index for Technical Skills (GRITS) and the time taken to complete the operation.Results: Our study revealed a significant improvement in Group II GRITS score by 63.2% and significant shortening of operative time in Group II by 36.5%.Conclusion: This study provides the plastic surgery community with a novel cleft palate bench model as a validated training tool. After a single session, we observed improvement in cleft palate procedural skills, confidence, knowledge and shortening in time taken to finish the operation among trainees. Additional research is needed to assess the durability of these improvements over time, and also the benefit of additional sessions with the bench model.