Teaching model for intraoperative spinal sonography in spinal fractures - An experimental study

To improve the technique of intraoperative sonography of the spinal canal, a teaching model of the thoracolumbar spine was developed. It allows to sim ulate the typical spinal stenosis of a vertebral fracture and the sonograph ic procedure to detect and measure such a lesion. Moreover, partial laminec tomy and modification of a fixateur interne set-up, which are preconditions for successful sonography, can be simulated. Independent of the surgical q ualification, a high precision in sonographic localisation and measurement of the spinal canal stenosis was,achieved by the training. The results coul d be validated in the cadaveric model. Thus, sonographic expertise acquired with the teaching model proved to be reliable in the clinical situation.