Bioengineering 3D wound simulations as tools in wound care training

Aim: Wound care specialists are faced with limited resources that enable them to safely and effectively develop their debriding and wound management skills. Current training resources include citrus peels and cadavers, either exhibiting poor mechanical resemblance to wounds in live humans or lacking in supply, which subsequently causes a significant risk when translation to patients is inevitably mismatched. Our research aims to establish a multitude of true-to-life wound simulations with various aetiologies, allowing the practice of multiple wound management and debridement techniques, whilst also overcoming the mechanical, ethical and accessibility-related issues of other models.

Method: Collaboration between academic staff, materials scientists and tissue viability nurses has facilitated the creation of our initial prototype – a chronic wound simulation. Models were bioengineered using 3D printing and casting technology, generating multiple wound layers including healthy skin base in a range of skin tones, rough granulation tissue, removable slough, and debridable skin necrosis. The mechanical properties of the models were matched to those found in human wounds using 100% natural and sustainable biomaterials that are readily accessible.

Results / Discussion: From this, we have extended our portfolio, establishing a wound tear simulation, diabetic foot model with multiple ulcers, and incorporated other anatomical features including hair, fat and bone to enhance realism and further educate the user. We continue to successfully supply model units with multinational wound care companies, in addition to partners Accelerate Academy (UK), who deliver Society of Tissue Viability endorsed sharp debridement courses, with excellent feedback being given.

Conclusion: We envisage that our wound models will help contribute to a more skilled and confident wound care workforce in a cost-effective manner, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.