A short report regarding an economic and anatomy-based simulated skin model

Background

Conventionally, the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) requires the recruitment of patients with appropriate physical signs, which became impossible during the fifth wave of the local COVID-19 pandemic. To host the final OSCE without any actual patients, our department developed a skin model from readily available materials.

Setting

One of the final-year surgical OSCE stations focused on the identification and management of benign subcutaneous lesions, including sebaceous cysts (also called epidermal inclusion cysts) and lipomas.

The design

The model starts with a low-cost skin model from Limbs & Things (cost: US $6.9–10/piece). The sebaceous cyst model involved dissection of the superficial ‘skin’ flap. The lesion was re-created using gel held by a plastic wall created by a glove fingertip sealed off by silk sutures. Additional modifications were made to the lipoma model to differentiate these two types of lesions. The pass rate in this station was similar to that of actual patients. Assessment of the models by experienced surgeons showed that they were easy to differentiate and suitable for teaching and assessment.

Conclusion

This anatomy-based, low-cost skin model is easily reproducible and might serve as a good adjunct for clinical year teaching and assessment.