An Easily Assembled, Low-Cost Model for Lateral Canthotomy Education

Abstract

Background: Lateral canthotomy is a vision-saving procedure. However, the low incidence of orbital compartment syndrome and the expense of simulators to practice this procedure can lead to low confidence and delays in the performance of the procedure by emergency physicians.

Discussion: We used a simple, inexpensive, easily assembled eye model for lateral canthotomy education at a residency program and a national conference obtaining feedback from simulation participants. Residents rated procedure laboratories that included the lateral canthotomy model as 4.9 to 5 (on a 5-point Likert scale, with 5 being the best score). National conference participants rated the model a 9 as a useful training model for practitioners on a 10-point Likert scale.

Conclusion: This simple task trainer is practical, inexpensive, quickly assembled, and useful as a tool for practicing emergency medicine providers.

Keywords: lateral canthotomy; low-fidelity model; procedure; simulation.