INCUS AND STAPES FOOTPLATE SIMULATOR

Prosthesis placement in stapes surgery is difficult to master. Althoug h temporal bone dissection is an important adjunct to operative experi ence and anatomic knowledge when training residents to perform this pr ocedure, the high cost and scarcity of temporal bones available for te aching purposes limit their convenience as teaching tools. Therefore, to augment training of residents, the authors developed an inexpensive , easily constructed middle ear simulator made from a disposable drink ing cup, toothpicks, and a tongue depressor. The device is used with a microscope and ear instruments to manipulate, place, and crimp stapes prostheses. Improved surgical skills can lead to better surgical resu lts, and this middle ear simulator can help to improve otologic surgic al skills by giving residents the opportunity to practice techniques n ecessary to master stapes surgery.