Applicability of a sheep model for training in plastic surgery of eyelids and orbit

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Applicability of a sheep model for training in plastic surgery of eyelids and orbit Via ear nose throat Ear Nose Throat J. 2021 Sep 23:1455613211047036. doi: 10.1177/01455613211047036. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To test the applicability of a fresh tissue model for teaching facial plastic techniques and approaches to the eyelids and orbit. DESIGN: Observational animal experiments. SUBJECTS: Ten prepubescent sheep heads harvested following humane euthanasia at the completion of unrelated live animal research. METHODS: Young sheep were saline pe rfused at the end of an in vivo protocol. Head and neck tissues were harvested and refrigerated for 3-7 days. An experienced oculoplastic surgeon and an otolaryngologist explored the feasibility of common oculoplastic procedures in the ovine model. RESULTS: The model has potential for teaching basic principles in eyelid surgery including upper lid blepharoplasty, aponeurotic ptosis repair, upper lid gold weight lid loading for facial paralysis, lateral canthotomy and inferior limb cantholysis, lower lid tightening, and transconjunctival approach to the orbital floor. Eye muscle advancement, optic nerve sheath fenestration, and enucleation also accurately simulated human surgery. Anatomic variations limit the sheep model for orbital floor reconstruction and lacrimal drainage procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The sheep head and neck provide an inexpensive, safe model for developing skills in several oculoplastic procedures. Formal simulation testing is needed to confirm these exper t opinions. PMID:34551606 | DOI:10.1177/01455613211047036 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.