[From reconstruction to function : Hands-on training in tympanoplasty using real-time feedback].

Background: Surgery of the middle ear requires a very high level of fine motor skills. Due to the increased potential for complications in middle ear operations, it is appropriate to acquire these skills beforehand by operating on a model.
Objective: How satisfactory is the training on suitable models? Are the skills acquired from working on a model transferable to intraoperative situations? Will the type of model and its use for training influence ear surgery in the future?
Material and Methods: Available publications and own experiences with the Dresden tympanoplasty model (DTM) are analyzed and discussed.
Results: Although middle ear surgery makes very high demands on the surgeon and there is a significant risk for severe complications to the ear as a sense organ, there are currently very few options to train surgeons in advance. The DTM is a validated training model, which is capable of closing this gap. Due to the possibility of using a real-time feedback variation of the model, the understanding for reconstruction quality and intraoperative acoustic stress can be improved. The translation of the real-time feedback idea into actual middle ear surgery can improve reconstruction quality in the future.
Conclusion: Training on suitable models is indispensable, especially when training as a surgeon to carry out middle ear operations. Adding another sense perception to the internal and external quality assessment of tympanoplasty by inclusion of the real-time feedback option, can optimize learning and operating processes.