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 Not stated in source (3D-print time depends on the printer and the skull geometry). |
| 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. 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] |
Direct source: Bakhshi et al. 2022, BMC Medical Education.[1] The bootcamp this station belongs to took its curriculum from the Society of Neurological Surgeons national fundamentals course, which the source names as its origin: Selden NR, Origitano TC, Burchiel KJ, et al., "A national fundamentals curriculum for neurosurgery PGY1 residents: the 2010 Society of Neurological Surgeons boot camp courses", Neurosurgery 2012;70(4):971–81, with the Society's own Intern Boot Camp course page. This page covers the simulator only.
Tissues
| Tissue | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bone | 1 | 3D-printed ABS | US$57 | An adult cranium printed in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The trainee drills burr holes and a craniotomy through the printed bone, which gives the rigid resistance of cranial bone. The source does not publish the STL/CAD geometry or the print settings. It states a melting point of 145.2 °F (≈63 °C) for the ABS, which is well below the usual melting range of ABS. This page reports that figure 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. 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. A rigid plastic gives the bony resistance that burr-hole and craniotomy drilling need.[1]
Checkpoint: Confirm the printed cranium is rigid and intact. Confirm it represents the adult skull vault that receives the burr holes and the craniotomy.
Phase 2: Set up and operate
Step 1: Secure the skull for drilling. Steady the printed skull on the work surface. Present the vault for drilling, as a fixed operative field does.[1]
Step 2: Drill the burr holes. With a cranial perforator, drill burr holes at the chosen points on the vault. Practise controlled entry. Feel 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. Practise 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 taught separately. The source does not publish the exact skull geometry or the print settings, so faithful reproduction needs the authors' file. The source states an ABS melting point of 145.2 °F (≈63 °C), which appears inconsistent with ABS. This page reports that figure 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 1.13 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 27, 2026. |