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As sonography (US) continues to become a mainstay in medicine, both as a screening device and as a procedural tool, the use of task-based sonographic trainers (i.e., phantoms) in medical training has become increasingly necessary. This is especially true for what has been termed ‘the global use of US’, or the use of US as an imperative tool during structural planning and placement of peripheral and central lines within patients in emergency and hospital settings. However, despite the frequency and technicality of US-guided procedures involving arterial and venous line placement, the benefit of such hands-on US simulation training for employees and professional students alike is often outweighed by cost. The current market for US trainers displaying human forearm anatomy and branching vessels comes at a high price tag of over 2,000 USD per model. The authors’ experiment utilises 3D printing techniques and biodegradable ballistics gel to create a cost-effective, versatile, and yet realistic peripheral line simulator in order to cultivate real-time learning of arterial/venous arm anatomy, while providing mechanical practice for needle driving and US technique, all at a fraction of the commercial price.

Ultrasonography is often the preferred method of imaging for needle-guided procedures of the hip joint, including aspirations, local anaesthetic injections, and the use of corticosteroids. Phantoms (i.e., training devices mimicking human tissue and bony structures under acoustic sonography) are used to help train medical professionals to perform these procedures accurately, emphasising the art of physical simulation in unison with didactic learning. In the authors’ study, 3D printing technology was used to simulate an anatomically accurate human hip joint, with the hopes of creating an affordable and customisable ultrasound hip trainer, allowing novice sonographers to practice guided injections to hone their skills before performing these procedures on human subjects.

The use of musculoskeletal ultrasound is expanding in many medical disciplines, and simulation trainers have been successfully employed to help practitioners learn various ultrasound techniques. While there are fewer commercial trainers in musculoskeletal ultrasound than other ultrasound modalities, the ones that do exist can be prohibitively expensive. Several less expensive phantom trainers have been described in the literature, including those made of ballistic gelatine. The authors present a three-dimensional printed knee phantom that was overlaid with ballistic gelatine as a viable option for training.

Abstract Introduction This team-based learning (TBL) module is designed to teach students the clinical gross anatomy of the vertebral column. Specifically, the resource provides learners with information on the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of a lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. Methods This module utilizes the standard TBL format. Students are assigned a relevant reading assignment from a text as appropriate, along with the learning objectives to focus their preparations prior to the class session. At the beginning of the session, students are divided into teams of five to six persons. A 10-item individual readiness assurance test is then given to each student. Immediately following this, student teams take the group readiness assurance test, which consists of the same 10-question quiz. Following the readiness assurance portion, student teams are given the application exercise, which consists of a clinical case study followed by six multiple-choice questions. Results This TBL module was originally delivered to first-year medical students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in the fall of 2013 in the Fundamentals-I course. The UAB medical class had an enrollment of 192 students. Student evaluation data from the Fundamentals-I module were generally positive regarding the use of TBL in anatomy education. Forty-three percent of students agreed or strongly agreed that TBL was a useful activity, while 30% disagreed and 27% were neutral. Student comments indicated that the TBL activities were helpful in critical thinking regarding the content. Discussion This TBL module is designed to teach students the clinical gross anatomy of the vertebral column and provide a clinical case-based exercise for the application of this knowledge. The content included in this module is suited for a variety of health science disciplines, including medicine, dentistry, optometry, and both physical and occupational therapy.