Abstract

Introduction: This study aims to evaluate the production process, applicability, and educational potential of three-dimensional (3D) printed skull base models developed for use in endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) training.

Methods: DICOM-format images obtained from cadaveric computed tomography (CT) data were processed using the 3D Slicer software to create a 3D digital model of the nasal passage. The models were converted into stereolithography (STL) format and produced at a 1:1 scale using polylactic acid (PLA) filament with a 3D printer. The printed skull models were tested with the endoscopic robotic arm previously developed in our earlier study. The robot’s capability to autonomously navigate to the sphenoid ostium along a predetermined path was evaluated.

Results: Following the setup, the robotic system was able to autonomously reach predetermined anatomical targets during the nasal and sphenoid stages. The PLA models demonstrated sufficient flexibility and durability to allow blunt dissection in the nasal passage. The use of these models enabled repeated trials prior to cadaveric applications, facilitating system optimization and resolution of potential technical issues, thereby preventing possible damage to cadaveric tissues.

Conclusions: 3D-printed skull base models can serve as a low-cost, accessible, and reproducible simulation tool for EES training. This approach has the potential to shorten the learning curve, accelerate surgical skill acquisition, and reduce complication risks. Future studies should focus on enhancing the anatomical and haptic realism of the models and on long-term evaluation of their effectiveness in surgical training with artificial intelligence integration.

Keywords: endoscopic endonasal surgery, three-dimensional printing, skull base surgery, robotic surgery, surgical training, simulation

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Copyright and license

Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

How to cite

1.
Ergen A, Çakır M, Çaklılı M, Anık İ. Practical study on three-dimensional skull base models in endoscopic endonasal surgery training. Sinir Sistemi Cerrahisi Derg 2025;10(2):51-58. https://doi.org/10.54306/SSCD.2025.219