Fabrication of Low-cost Artificial Tibia Bone Using Polyurethane Rigid Foam and Epoxy Resin for Orthopedic Surgical Skills Training

Abstract

Introduction. Skills training using artificial bones became more critical in response to the Orthopedic surgical training restriction caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To cut the expenses of buying commercial artificial bones, the Ilizarov Limb Reconstruction Service has decided to fabricate its artificial bones for surgical skills training.

Objective. To determine if resin-coated polyurethane (PU) rigid foam is a suitable, low-cost alternative to commercial artificial bone.

Methods. Tibiae were fabricated using PU rigid foam coated with epoxy resins. Three randomly selected fabricated tibia, and one standard artificial tibia was subjected to drilling with drill bits and K-wires. The time to penetration of one cortex of the three segments of the tibiae was recorded in seconds. An actual circular external fixator was applied. The actual cost of production was calculated.

Results. Each fabricated tibia costs ?456.93. The fabricated tibiae mean time to penetration was 2.15s and 3.37s using drill bits and K-wires. The commercial artificial bone mean time to penetration was 3.41s and 3.57s with drill bits and K-wires. The fabricated tibia was able to withstand the application of a circular external fixator and corticotomy.

Conclusion. The fabricated tibia is a suitable and more affordable simulation model for surgical skills training.