title: How to Build Your Simple and Cost-effective Arthroscopic Skills Simulator.
abstract: Acquisition of arthroscopic skills is not always easy and can be time-consuming. Simulation in arthroscopy improves surgical skills and can bridge the gap between reduced surgical exposure and training time and the need to reach a required level of competency. We propose a method to create a simple and cost-effective arthroscopic skills simulator using readily available materials and a low-cost Web camera available from online shops. This arthroscopic simulation device can be used to improve skills of all levels of trainees at home, in a bioskills laboratory, or in the theater. It can also be used by experienced surgeons to train with instruments and devices before using them for the first time in theaters, thus ensuring safe use and improving patient safety. Further validation as a training tool is needed and should be the focus of additional research, but early results are very promising.
authors.affiliation: Reading Shoulder Unit, Royal Berkshire and Berkshire Independent Hospital, Reading, England; Hereford County Hospital, Hereford, England.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arealis
authors.affiliation: Reading Shoulder Unit, Royal Berkshire and Berkshire Independent Hospital, Reading, England; Arthroscopy Knee & Shoulder, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham, England.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holton
authors.affiliation: Reading Shoulder Unit, Royal Berkshire and Berkshire Independent Hospital, Reading, England.
authors.forename: Joana Bento
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, England.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sagkrioti
authors.affiliation: Arthroscopy Knee & Shoulder, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham, England.
authors.forename: Martyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Snow
authors.affiliation: Queen's Hospital, Burton upon Trent, England.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamlet
authors.affiliation: Reading Shoulder Unit, Royal Berkshire and Berkshire Independent Hospital, Reading, England.
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Levy