TissueDB/Simulators/Long Bone Drilling Simulator
The Long Bone Drilling Simulator is a low-cost trainer, built from locally available materials, for rehearsing the psychomotor skill of drilling long bone with learners new to using a surgical drill. It adapts ETALO's Basic Bone Drilling Simulator (Education To Advance Limb-Saving Options for Open Fractures and Osteomyelitis), seating a bone analog — bamboo or PPR pipe — in a soft stabiliser of clay or play-dough on a flat surface. The learner drills into the analog to build basic drill control before moving on to ETALO's more complex simulators. The original instructions are on the ETALO Basic Bone Drilling Simulator page on Appropedia.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Features and Basic Operation | The learner drills into a bone analog — bamboo or PPR pipe — held in a clay or play-dough stabiliser on a flat surface. This rehearses basic bone drilling for learners new to using a drill. An optional plunge-detector layer is documented separately. |
| Current Development Status | A self-directed training module (ETALO, Global Surgical Training Challenge, published 2021) with a built-in knowledge assessment; not yet formally validated for skills transfer or clinical outcomes. |
| Estimated Build Time and Cost | $10 (estimated) |
| Specialized Tools and Equipment | Hand or electric drill with drill bit |
| Version | Version 1 |
| Development Team Contact Information | ETALO — orthopaedic surgeons, engineers, and education/assessment specialists from Uganda, USA, and Canada. Developed for the Global Surgical Training Challenge, 2020. |
Tissues
| Tissue | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bone | 1 piece | Bamboo | $1–3 | Variant A: Small-diameter bamboo stick or pole. Acts as bone for drilling practice. |
| Bone | 1 piece | PPR Pipe | $2–5 | Variant B: PPR (Polypropylene Random Copolymer) pipe. Small-diameter plumbing pipe. Acts as bone for drilling practice. |
Structural Parts
| Part Name | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stabiliser | Sufficient to stabilise bone | Clay or Play-dough | $3–10 | Soft clay or play-dough holds the bone analog in place during drilling; the ETALO matrix also lists a C-clamp or wood frame as stabilisers. |
Build Instructions
Phase 1: Variant A — Bamboo + Clay
Step 1: Apply moldable clay to a hard flat surface as a stabiliser.
Step 2: Insert the bamboo (acting as bone) into the clay so it is held securely in place for drilling.
Phase 2: Variant B — PPR Pipe + Play-Dough
Step 1: Apply play-dough to a hard flat surface as a stabiliser.
Step 2: Insert the PPR pipe (acting as bone) into the play-dough so it is held securely in place for drilling.
Additional Bone Layer Options
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The following bone analog materials are listed in the ETALO Basic Simulator Matrix but are not demonstrated in the instructional videos:
- Animal bone
- Play-dough pipe
References
Video Demonstrations
- Drilling with an electric drill — Video demonstration of electric drill operation on bone analog
- Animated Video of Drilling Bone — Animation showing proper drilling technique and plunge detection
Build Reference Documents
- ETALO Basic Simulator Table — Matrix of bone analog materials and properties
- ETALO Plunge Detector — Technical reference for the optional plunge-detector layer, documented separately.
| Alternative names | ETALO Basic Bone Drilling Simulator Bone Drilling Simulator |
|---|
| Authors | Arturopelayo |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Arturopelayo (2026). "TissueDB/Simulators/Long Bone Drilling Simulator". Appropedia. Retrieved July 10, 2026. |