A 3D-Printed Educational Model for First-Line Management of BPPV in Emergency Departments

Pietro Canzi; Elena Carlotto; Stefania Marconi; Silvia Quaglieri; Giuseppe Attanasio; Francesca Yoshie Russo; Ilaria Ottoboni; Silvia Ponzo; Andrea Scribante; Stefano Perlini; Marco Benazzo

doi:10.3390/audiolres14060086

A 3D-Printed Educational Model for First-Line Management of BPPV in Emergency Departments

Audiol Res. 2024 Dec 2;14(6):1045-1057. doi: 10.3390/audiolres14060086.

Authors

Pietro Canzi^{1

2}, Elena Carlotto^{1

2}, Stefania Marconi³, Silvia Quaglieri², Giuseppe Attanasio⁴, Francesca Yoshie Russo⁴, Ilaria Ottoboni¹, Silvia Ponzo⁵, Andrea Scribante^{6

7}, Stefano Perlini⁸, Marco Benazzo^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
² Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
³ Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
⁴ Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, 00100 Rome, Italy.
⁵ Department of Otolaryngology, S. Croce Hospital, 12100 Cuneo, Italy.
⁶ Unit of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, Section of Dentistry, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
⁷ Unit of Dental Hygiene, Section of Dentistry, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
⁸ Emergency Medicine, Vascular and Metabolic Disease Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.

PMID: 39727609
DOI: 10.3390/audiolres14060086

Abstract

Background: We present a feasibility study on the development of a 3D-printed (3DP) model of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and its validation as an educational tool for training in therapeutic maneuvers.

Methods: A 1.5:1 3DP model of the human labyrinth, supplemented by a 1:1 3DP model of the skull, was obtained from a computed tomography scan. We presented the model to 15 Emergency Medicine residents, 15 medical students, 15 Otolaryngology residents, and 15 Otolaryngology practitioners from two academic referral centers. Participants performed the Semont and Epley maneuvers on the model twice, once before and once after observing the biomechanics of BPPV using this tool. A specific survey was then administered to assess both performance improvement and satisfaction.

Results: All the trainees demonstrated an improving trend on the second attempt. The medical students ameliorated significantly after the training in both Epley (p = 0.007) and Semont maneuvers (p = 0.0134). The Emergency Medicine residents improved significantly in Semont maneuvers (p = 0.0134). Self-reported understanding of the BPPV mechanics improved significantly after training in all the groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The preliminary data highlighted the potential benefits of training on the 3DP model for practitioners involved in the first-line management of BPPV.

Keywords: 3D printing; benign paroxysmal positional vertigo; emergency department; labyrinth; maneuver; posterior semicircular canal; tangible model; training.