Development of an Affordable, Visual Feedback-Enhanced Auricular Field Block Model.

Injuries to the external ear commonly present to the emergency department and require early intervention to prevent serious complications, such as necrosis and ear deformities. Auricular field blocks are utilized to provide thorough anesthesia to the entire ear while preventing tissue swelling and anatomical distortion that is associated with the injection of local anesthetics directly into the external ear itself. Emergency medicine physicians must be competent and confident in their ability to perform auricular field blocks and manage lacerations to and hematomas of the external ear. This technical report details the development of an affordable, visual feedback-enhanced simulation model designed to educate on the procedural anatomy and technique of an auricular field block.