title: A practical laboratory study simulating the percutaneous lumbar transforaminal epidural injection: training model in fresh cadaveric sheep spine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Laboratory training models are essential for developing and refining treatment skills before the clinical application of surgical and invasive procedures. A simple simulation model is needed for young trainees to learn how to handle instruments, and to perform safe lumbar transforaminal epidural injections. Our aim is to present a model of a fresh cadaveric sheep lumbar spine that simulates the lumbar transforaminal epidural injection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The material consists of a 2-year-old fresh cadaveric sheep spine. A 4-step approach was designed for lumbar transforaminal epidural injection under C-arm scopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the lumbar transforaminal epidural injection, the fluoroscope was adjusted to get a proper oblique view while the material was stabilized in a prone position. The procedure then begin, using the C-arm guidance scopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The model simulates well the steps of standard lumbar transforaminal epidural injections in the human spine. The cadaveric sheep spine represents a good method for training and it simulates fluoroscopic lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injection procedures performed in the human spine.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Kartal Education and Research Hospital, Department of Algology, Istanbul, Turkey. husnususlu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Husnu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suslu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural / Q000379:methods*; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012756:Sheep; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013663:Teaching