OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the features, anatomic accuracy, and educational value of a high-fidelity bilateral cleft lip simulator.

DESIGN

Evaluation of the simulator by expert cleft surgeons after performing a simulated bilateral cleft lip repair.

SETTING

The simulator was evaluated by the surgeons during the Latin American Craniofacial Association meeting.

PARTICIPANTS

Eleven experienced cleft surgeons evaluated the simulator. The cleft surgeons were selected based on their availability during the meeting.

INTERVENTIONS

The participants performed a simulated bilateral cleft lip repair. They were each provided with a questionnaire assessing the simulator's features, realism and value as a training tool.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE (S): The main outcome measure are the scores obtained from a Likert-type questionnaire assessing the simulators features, realism and value.

RESULTS

Overall, the surgeons agreed with the simulator's realism and anatomic accuracy (average score of 3.7 out of 5). Overall, the surgeons strongly agreed with the value of the simulator as a training tool (average score of 4.6 out of 5).

CONCLUSIONS

A high-fidelity bilateral cleft lip simulator was developed that is realistic and valuable as a training tool. The simulator provides a comprehensive training platform to gain hands-on experience in bilateral cleft lip repair before operating on real patients.