ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recent reports indicate that there is a trend toward the use of models and simulators to teach basic orthopaedic operative skills. We describe a high-fidelity model for teaching basic orthopaedic fracture manipulation. METHODS: A model of a distal radial fracture was developed and validated by orthopaedic surgeons with different levels of experience, who examined and manipulated the model and then completed a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: The participants mostly agreed (designated as 4 in the questionnaire) that the model performed well on the degree to which the manipulation represented real life. The participants agreed (designated as 5 in the questionnaire) that the model scored high on the appearance and feel of the fracture and its ability to be used as a teaching tool. There was no difference between perceptions of participants with regard to different levels of occupational experience or model use. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that this model could be used to teach the skill of closed reduction of a distal radial fracture in the preclinical setting.
