An endoscopic endonasal surgery training model using quail eggs

Endoscopic endonasal surgery is commonly performed in the field of otorhinolaryngology, but has been a major cause of medical disputes. Satisfactory training in endoscopic endonasal surgery, especially for junior residents, is therefore of great importance. Cadaver dissection is the gold standard for such education; however, this can be difficult to manage, and there are limited opportunities to attend cadaver-dissection courses. Recently, alternative methods for resident training have been reported, including virtual reality simulation, although this requires considerable set-up costs. Various physical sinus models based on synthetic materials are also available; however, these are single use and are comparatively expensive for repeated practices, although they are beneficial for training in basic techniques. To overcome these difficulties and cost issues, we have developed a training model using quail eggs that is both low cost and reusable. Our model is aimed at training residents to handle surgical instruments under an angled endoscopic view, which is a common weak point in surgical beginners.