Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health

Introduction: Patients present to the emergency department (ED) relatively commonly with traumatic closed proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) dislocations, an orthopedic emergency. There is a paucity of teaching models and training simulations for clinicians to learn either the closed dislocated dorsal or volar interphalangeal joint reduction technique. We implemented a teaching model to demonstrate the utility of a novel reduction model designed from three-dimensional (3D) printable components that are easy to connect and do not require further machining or resin models to complete.

Methods: Students watched a two-minute video and a model demonstration by the authors. Learners including emergency medicine (EM) residents and physician assistant fellows assessed model fidelity, convenience, perceived competency, and observed competency.

Results: Seventeen of 21 (81%) participants agreed the model mimicked dorsal and volar PIPJ dislocations. Nineteen of 21 (90%) agreed the model was easy to use, 21/21 (100%) agreed the dorsal PIPJ model and 20/21 (95%) agreed the volar PIPJ model improved their competency.

Conclusion: Our 3D-printed, dorsal and volar dislocation reduction model is easy to use and affordable, and it improved perceived competency among EM learners at an academic ED.