New 3D-printed ear models offer training potential for surgical students

A new development in 3D printing could provide surgical students with realistic replica ears to help them practice operating on children.

University of Washington researchers have used 3D printing to create a low-cost paediatric rib cartilage model that closely resembles the feel of real cartilage, allowing for realistic surgical practice.

Rib cartilage is often used to create replacement ears for children whose ears are missing or underdeveloped, but the substance is limited in quantity, meaning students often have to practice on materials such as animal ribs, bars of soap or fruits and vegetables.

As an alternative, the researchers produced silicone models from a 3D printed mould modeled from a computed tomography (CT) scan of an eight-year-old patient. The firmness, feel and suturing quality were shown to be much more comparable to real rib cartilage.

Moreover, since these models are printed from CT scans, they mimic the individual's unique anatomy, making it possible to use a patient-specific rib model to practice for a challenging surgery.

Angelique Berens, an otolaryngology – head and neck surgery resident at the University of Washington School of Medicine, said: "With one 3D-printed mould, you can make a billion of these models for next to nothing. What this research shows is that we can move forward with one of these models and start using it."