Development and Validation of a Three-Dimensional Printed Training Model to Teach Ultrasound-Guided Injections of the Cervical Articular Process Joints in Horses.

The research article is about the development and validation of a realistic three-dimensional (3D) printed model of a horse’s cervical (neck) joint to help teach how to perform ultrasound-guided injections. Injections are often given to horses suffering from osteoarthritis to relieve pain and inflammation, thus placing a needle accurately within the joint space is essential.

Objective of the Study

• The main goal of the study was to create and validate a 3D printed model of an equine (horse) cervical articular process joint that can act as a practice tool for teaching and improving the skill of ultrasound-guided intra-articular injections, which are therapeutic procedures used to alleviate joint pain and inflammation in horses.

Study Methodology

• Five identical models of a horse’s cervical articular process joint were 3D printed and embedded within a 10% ballistic gelatin to simulate the actual joint tissue.
• The study then proceeded to evaluate the effectiveness of the model by measuring the expertise and speed of both experts and novices in performing ultrasound-guided injections on the model. This was done using an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).

Study Findings

• The findings established that experts were quicker (averaging 22.51 seconds) at inserting needles correctly into the joint space of the model than novices who took an average of 35.96 seconds. However, the time difference wasn’t statistically significant.
• On the other hand, the scoring of the OSCE showed experts having a median score of 14, significantly higher than the novices (average score of 12). This supports the construct validity of the model and indicates the model’s capability in reflecting the real-life differences in expertise levels.

Validity of the Model

• The participants were asked to answer a survey assessing the face (how well the model appears to test what it’s supposed to test) and content validity (how well the model covers all aspects of what it’s supposed to measure) of the model.
• Responses to the survey showed all scores greater than 7 out of 10 on a Likert-type scale, indicating the participants’ agreement on the face and content validity of the model.

In summary, the research successfully created and validated a 3D printed model of a horse’s cervical articular process joint, demonstrating its capabilities as a viable and effective training tool for teaching ultrasound-guided injections.