Using what seems like a high-tech version of the child’s game "Operation," some veterinary students can now practice giving equine joint injections using a simulator constructed of foam, rubber bands, nylon tights, and an electric buzzer.

A team of undergraduate students at England’s Royal Veterinary College (RVC) developed the new buzzing joint simulator to help vet students practice finding the right location to administer joint injections before trying their hands at injecting a live horse.

Renate Weller, DrMedVet., PhD, MRCVS, MScVetEd, FHEA, professor of comparative biomechanics and imaging at RVC, explained that students often have a hard time placing the needle in the correct spot within the joint.

“When you are inexperienced, it takes you more trials before you get it right, and in the case of nerve and joint blocks this means the horse getting poked with needles more,” Weller said. “This is obviously not nice for the horse, and often horses get impatient and less cooperative, which in turn leads to an increased risk for the handler, vet, and the horse itself to get injured. Repeat injections also increase the risk of infection