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Developing an accurately sized tonsil tie simulator: a prospective, observational study to measure the anatomical distance from the incisor teeth to the inferior tonsillar pole in a paediatric population

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 April 2024

Aikaterini Eleftheriadou Open the ORCID record for Aikaterini Eleftheriadou [Opens in a new window] ,
Addison Taylor ,
Madhankumar Krishnan  and
Ian Street
Aikaterini Eleftheriadou*
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Addison Taylor
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Madhankumar Krishnan
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Ian Street
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom
*
Corresponding author: Aikaterini Eleftheriadou; Email: hlaeleft@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study is to measure the distance from the midline of the upper incisors to the lower pole of the tonsils in paediatric patients of varying ages. This will enable the design of accurately sized tonsil tie simulators.

Methods

Two hundred patients between 1 year and 16 years old were recruited in this prospective observational study. The patient's age and the mean distance from the midline of the upper incisors to the lower pole of the tonsils were plotted into a scatter plot and the line of best fit was calculated.

Results

The equation for the line of best fit was: distance (mm) = 1.9604 × age (digitalised years) + 72.436.

Conclusion

This is the first study to measure the anatomical distance from the upper incisor teeth to the inferior tonsillar pole in a paediatric population. This can be used to accurately size tonsil tie simulators and enhance their fidelity.

Keywords

Tonsiltonsillectomytonsillitissimulation training

Information

Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 138 , Issue 10 , October 2024 , pp. 1004 - 1007
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

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Footnotes

Aikaterini Eleftheriadou takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

References

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