TissueDB/Simulators/Cranial Burr Hole and Craniotomy Simulator (Bakhshi)
The Cranial Burr Hole and Craniotomy Simulator (Bakhshi) is a low-cost, 3D-printed skull for practising the two fundamental cranial-access skills — drilling a burr hole and turning a craniotomy. Trainees drill both on the printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) cranium with the same perforator and craniotome they would use in the operating room, feeling the rigid resistance of cranial bone. It was designed in-house as one station of the first low-cost, multi-centre national neurosurgery bootcamp for postgraduate year-1 residents in Karachi, Pakistan.[1]
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Features and Basic Operation | The trainee drills burr holes and turns a craniotomy on the rigid printed skull using standard neurosurgical instruments, repeating each skill to build instrument handling, control of drilling depth, and flow of operation. The printed cranium can be re-drilled until its surface is used up and then reprinted, making it a repeatable, disposable station.[1] |
| Current Development Status | Built in-house and used in a national neurosurgery bootcamp (22 PGY-1 residents); not independently validated for skill transfer to the operating room or for patient outcomes.[1] |
| Estimated Build Time and Cost | US$57 |
| Specialized Tools and Equipment | A 3D printer and ABS to print the skull. For the drilling itself: a cranial perforator for the burr holes, and an electronic craniotome and cutter for the craniotomy. In the source bootcamp the perforators and cutters were reused from the operating room after sterilisation, and the electronic craniotome was provided free of charge by the vendors — none were fabricated. ⚑ Open for review: the source does not publish the skull's STL/CAD file or print settings; the geometry must be obtained from the authors to reproduce.[1] |
| Version | Version 1 |
| Development Team Contact Information | Saqib Kamran Bakhshi, Medical College, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan; saqib.bakhshi@aku.edu. Part of the national neurosurgery bootcamp at Aga Khan University Hospital.[1] |
Tissues
| Tissue | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bone | 1 | 3D-printed ABS | US$57 | An adult cranium printed in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); burr holes and a craniotomy are drilled through the printed bone, which gives the rigid resistance of cranial bone. ⚑ Open for review: the STL/CAD geometry and print settings are not published in the source; the source also states a melting point of 145.2 °F (≈63 °C) for the ABS, which is well below the usual melting range of ABS and is reported here as printed in the source.[1] |
Build Instructions
Phase 1: Print the cranial model
Step 1: Obtain the adult skull geometry. Source a 3D-printable adult cranium model. ⚑ Open for review: the source does not publish the STL/CAD file or print settings; obtain the geometry from the authors (Aga Khan University) to reproduce the exact model.[1]
Step 2: Print the skull in ABS. Print the cranium in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) on a 3D printer, because a rigid plastic gives the bony resistance needed for burr-hole and craniotomy drilling.[1]
Checkpoint: Confirm the printed cranium is rigid, intact, and represents the adult skull vault where burr holes and a craniotomy will be made.
Phase 2: Set up and operate
Step 1: Secure the skull for drilling. Steady the printed skull on the work surface so the vault is presented for drilling, replicating the fixed operative field.[1]
Step 2: Drill the burr holes. Using a cranial perforator, drill burr holes at the chosen points on the vault, practising controlled entry and feeling the change in resistance as the perforator passes through the printed bone.[1]
Step 3: Turn the craniotomy. With the electronic craniotome and cutter, connect the burr holes to raise a bone flap, practising the craniotomy cut on the printed skull.[1]
Checkpoint: Verify a clean burr hole and a connected craniotomy cut; reprint the skull once its surface is used up.
Not suitable for / known limitations
The station reproduces only the bony step of cranial access: the printed skull models the cranium, not the underlying dura or brain (in the source bootcamp, dural and brain work were separate stations — cow-brain microdissection was a distinct station). The exact skull geometry and print settings are not published in the source, so faithful reproduction needs the authors' file. The source's stated ABS melting point (145.2 °F, ≈63 °C) appears inconsistent with ABS and is reported as printed.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Bakhshi SK, Ahmad R, Merchant AAH, Noorali AA, Abdul Rahim K, Shaikh NQ, Afzal N, Lakhdir MPA, Shamim MS, Haider AH. "Development, outcome and costs of a simulation-based neurosurgery bootcamp at the national level." BMC Medical Education 2022;22:896. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-022-03965-9. PMID: 36578075. PMC9795592. Licensed CC BY 4.0.
See also
[edit | edit source]- Lumbar Laminectomy and Dural Closure Simulator (Bakhshi) — the spine-surgery station of the same Bakhshi neurosurgery bootcamp family.
| Authors | Arturopelayo |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Arturopelayo (2026). "TissueDB/Simulators/Cranial Burr Hole and Craniotomy Simulator (Bakhshi)". Appropedia. Retrieved July 7, 2026. |