Acquisition of spine injection skills using a beef injection simulator

Abstract

Background: Students of interventional spine procedures typically learn needle injection technique using cadaver specimens or live patients in an operating room. This can be expensive, inefficient, uncomfortable to patients, and requires a significant time commitment from teaching staff.

Purpose: To present a simple and inexpensive simulator using a cut of beef as an injection model that can be used to teach certain components of interventional spine injection needle technique in a more efficient and cost effective fashion.

Basic procedures: A needle injection practice model using beef muscle attached to a plastic base was constructed. Students of interventional spine pain were instructed in C-arm x-ray operation and basic needle handling technique, then performed a series of mock injection procedures using this simulator. Procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and accuracy were measured.

Main findings: Speed, accuracy of needle placement, and fluoroscopy time of the subjects improved with the number of practice sessions completed. The subjects felt better prepared to perform live patient procedures as a result of this training.

Conclusions: Use of an inexpensive beef injection model is a valid, reliable, and feasible adjunct to teaching C-arm x-ray operation and spine injection needle technique to beginning students of intervention spine pain management.