A novel low-cost sinus surgery task trainer.

Sinus surgery simulation has proven to be a valuable teaching tool, yet the cost of many simulators limits the incorporation of this technology into training programs. The authors developed an inexpensive endoscopic sinus surgery task trainer and evaluated its value as a means of developing basic endoscopy and sinus surgery skills. For less than 5 US dollars, the training model was constructed using gelatin and embedded with reusable, recyclable, and readily available materials. Ten attending otolaryngologists performed nasal endoscopy and 5 specific tasks using this model, followed by completion of a survey evaluating the value of the model as a teaching tool. The model scored very well in promoting camera skills, instrumentation, and hand-eye coordination. This easily reproducible, highly rated sinus surgery task trainer can serve as an alternative to more expensive simulators. Studies are under way to determine its validity and effectiveness as both a teaching and assessment tool.