TissueDB/Simulators/Orthoplastic Reconstruction Simulator
General Information
Long-bone fracture phantom for external fixator placement training. Simulates a fractured long bone with medullary cavity using plastic pipe segments packed with sand and vegetable oil, wrapped in sponge for soft tissue and felt for skin. Designed as a low-cost, locally sourced platform; all materials can be substituted for similar materials locally sourced. Developed as part of the Orthoplastic Reconstruction training module within the Global Surgical Training Challenge.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| General Information | Source: Orthoplastic Reconstruction — Physical Simulator.[1] Part of the Orthoplastic Reconstruction training module. Base construction follows the AmoSmile Physical Simulator design. Developed for the Global Surgical Training Challenge by the AmoSmile team. |
| Features and Basic Operation | Not stated in source |
| Current Development Status | First pass engineering |
| Estimated Build Time and Cost | Not stated in source. Orthoplastic reconstruction/Physical Simulator (the source) does not quantify build time. The 10-step assembly procedure includes pipe-packing with sand and vegetable oil, sponge layering, and felt anchoring with elastic bands, but no stopwatch or duration estimate is provided., Not quantified in source. Orthoplastic reconstruction/Physical Simulator (the source) does not provide an itemised total cost; per-row USD ranges in the Tissues and Structural Parts tables marked "[~estimate, unverified]" are pre-existing local estimates and have not been source-traced. Per the Cardinal Rule on cost research, an aggregated total is deferred until those per-row estimates are either verified against retail listings or replaced with source-cited values. |
| Specialized Tools and Equipment | Hole punch, drill and drill bit (1 mm less than Schanz pins), external fixator kit |
| Version | Not stated in source |
| Development Team Contact Information | AmoSmile team (Global Surgical Training Challenge) |
Tissues
| Tissue | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin | 1 | Felt (45 cm × 10 cm) | USD 0.29–1 | Outer skin layer; anchored to board via elastic bands through holes. |
| Soft Tissue | 2 | Sponge (45 cm × 10 cm each) | USD 1–3 | Two cushion layers; one beneath bone segments, one above. |
| Bone (cortex) | 2 | Plastic Pipe (3 cm diameter, 15–20 cm each) | USD 1–3 | Cortical pipe; segments separated by 0.5 cm fracture gap. |
| Bone Marrow (medulla) | 1 | Sand + Vegetable Oil | USD 1–3 | Compacted sand–vegetable oil filling inside each pipe segment. |
Structural Parts
| Part Name | Qty | Material | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood Board | 1 | 50 cm × 20 cm | USD 5–15 [~estimate, unverified] | Build base; carries side pins and screw fixation. |
| Screws | 2 | USD <1 [~estimate, unverified] | One per lateral pipe end, driven through pipe wall into board. | |
| Super Glue | 1 | USD 1–3 [~estimate, unverified] | Used only if sponge edges lift after placement. | |
| Pins or Nails | 10 | USD 1–3 [~estimate, unverified] | Side pegs along long edges; anchor elastic bands. | |
| Elastic Bands | 10 | USD <1 [~estimate, unverified] | Loop through felt holes; anchor to side pegs. |
Build Instructions
Phase 1: Base and Bone Assembly
Step 1. Build the wooden base per the AmoSmile Physical Simulator design. Use the wooden board and 10 pins or nails for the sides.
Step 2. Cut 2 segments of 15–20 cm from the 50 cm plastic pipe. Pack each segment with a mix of sand and vegetable oil. Compact the fill as tightly as possible to simulate bone medulla.
Step 3. Place a 45 cm × 10 cm piece of sponge onto the wooden board.
Step 4. Lay the 2 pipe segments onto the sponge on the wooden board. Leave a 0.5 cm gap between the pipe ends to represent the fracture site.
Step 5. Secure each bone end to the wooden board. Drive 1 screw through each lateral end of the pipe, through the pipe wall and into the board.
Phase 2: Soft Tissue and Skin
Step 6. Lay a second 45 cm × 10 cm piece of sponge over the pipes and the fracture gap. Glue the edges if the sponge raises.
Step 7. Cut a 45 cm × 10 cm piece of felt.
Step 8. Punch 5 holes on each long side of the felt (10 holes total).
Step 9. Lay the felt over the sponge, which sits on top of the pipes.
Step 10. Attach the felt to the board by looping elastic bands through the punched holes and securing them to the side pegs.
| Alternative names | Orthoplastic reconstruction Physical Simulator |
|---|
| Authors | Arturopelayo |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Organizations | Global Surgical Training Challenge, AmoSmile |
| Cite as | Arturopelayo (2026). "TissueDB/Simulators/Orthoplastic Reconstruction Simulator". Appropedia. Retrieved June 4, 2026. |
- ↑ Equipment list, build procedure, and material specifications from Orthoplastic reconstruction/Physical Simulator.