Fractured Femur Simulator

Fractures of the femur have a very high incidence of catastrophic early and late complications. Prompt and judicious management of concurrent local visceral and systemic problems is essential. While training in proper techniques for these procedures is critical, finding acceptable models for realistic practice is difficult. There is a need to train large numbers of medical personnel in fracture management techniques. Learning of these procedures is required of combat medics and personnel, emergency medical personnel, nurses, and physicians. The solution to the need to for mass training is simulation technology. A high-fidelity PC-based training simulator is proposed here. The proposed simulator will provide visual feedback consistent with the visualization and manipulation of the fractured femur. It will train for multiple patient conditions and complications that might be encountered during the procedure. Cases and treatments presented in the training module will be based on embedded metrics for performance assessment and training. A user interface will contain a module that allows the teaching, rehearsal, testing and tracking the performance of the trainees. Phase I will result in a working prototype of the simulator.