Incus and stapes footplate simulator.

Prosthesis placement in stapes surgery is difficult to master. Although temporal bone dissection is an important adjunct to operative experience and anatomic knowledge when training residents to perform this procedure, the high cost and scarcity of temporal bones available for teaching 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 drinking 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 results, and this middle ear simulator can help to improve otologic surgical skills by giving residents the opportunity to practice techniques necessary to master stapes surgery.