Teleflex Incorporated is a US-based company specialized in the manufacturing of medical devices. It sells orthopedic surgical instruments under the brand name KMedic. The range of orthopedic instrumentation that is available under the brand KMedic includes osteotomes, bone cutting forceps, plate benders, shears, knives, mallets, screwdrivers, and other reusable surgical instruments (KMedic, n.d.). The aim of this paper is to explore where these instruments are used, what is their design and function, what costs and implants they are associated with, and how they should be cleaned and processed.
Where the Instrumentation Is Used
The instrumentation manufactured by KMedic is used in orthopedic surgery. These instruments are helpful in treating musculoskeletal trauma, sports injuries, spine illnesses, birth defects, and orthopedic tumors. Such acute conditions often require joint replacements, cutting or removing bone, or creating a window in bone, which requires the use of special surgical instruments. Furthermore, in orthopedics, there is frequently a need to insert an implant to support a damaged bone or replace a missed joint, so surgeons need special instruments that allow them to install implants.
The Design and Function
The orthopedic surgical instruments are designed so as to enable surgeons to perform hand surgical procedures aimed at repairing orthopedic injuries. KMedic (n.d.) regards orthopedic surgical instruments as “an extension of a surgeon’s hand,” which means that their design ensures “precision and reliability, consistency of pattern and uniform surface,” and convenience of use (p. vii). The instruments are made of stainless steel that is corrosion-resistant with proper care (KMedic, n.d.). There are various orthopedics surgical instruments, and each of them has a particular function. For example, bone reduction forceps with one tip having a stepped point is used for holding a small bone in place and is designed so as to better hold on a bone (KMedic, n.d.). The function of osteotomes is to cut bones and prepare them for orthopedic surgery. There are also instruments for retracting wound edges, clamping, remodeling bones, drilling, grasping, and dissecting.
Who Uses the Instrumentation
Orthopedic surgical instrumentation is used by surgeons performing orthopedic surgeries. Orthopedic surgeons have to possess a wide range of basic and advanced skills and knowledge. It is believed that orthopedic surgeons need to have the broadest knowledge of human anatomy and pathologies among all other surgical specialties (Atesok et al., 2017). They have to be aware of not only bone tissue pathologies but also soft tissue disorders, and they should understand how to operate different surgical and non-surgical equipment (Atesok et al., 2017). Although some orthopedic surgeons are generalists, many of them specialize in a particular orthopedic field. For example, they can deal with hip and knee injuries, foot and ankle, spine, shoulder and elbow, and hand injuries. Their purpose is to prevent, diagnose, and treat various disorders of joints, bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments in patients of all ages.
Associated Costs and Implants
Apart from the costs necessary for purchasing orthopedic surgical instruments, there are other costs associated with their use in medical settings. One important issue concerned with orthopedic surgical instrumentation is the loss of instruments and implants in operating rooms (Gurnea et al., 2016). Gurnea et al. (2016) cite one study conducted by Mayo Clinic, which estimated that retained surgical items, such as sponges or surgical instruments, occurred in 1 of 5500 cases. These cases resulted in a $60,000 average cost of hospitalization per patient (Gurnea et al., 2016). In addition, the indemnity payout based on such cases reaches $473,000 on average (Gurnea et al., 2016). The researchers also mention that dropped implants or screws of the wrong size cannot be resterilized, so they also add up to the costs of orthopedic surgeries (Gurnea et al., 2016). These costs could be avoided if orthopedic surgeons paid more attention to details.
As for implants associated with orthopedic surgical instrumentation, they include such widespread items as screws, wires, plates, and pins. Among instruments manufactured by KMedic, there are various screwdrivers designed to place and remove bone screws (KMedic, n.d.). The company also has forceps and clips used for holding plates and special scissors to cut wire (KMedic, n.d.). Thus, orthopedic instruments aid surgeons in inserting or removing orthopedic implants.
Cleaning and Processing
The reviewed instrumentation belongs to reusable surgical instruments, so it has to be cleaned and sterilized before it can be used again. New instruments should be cleaned, lubricated, and sterilized right before use (KMedic, n.d.). Although the instruments are made of corrosion-resistant still, they may be corroded if they are not maintained properly (KMedic, n.d.). Therefore, they should be cleaned with distilled water rather than tap water since the latter contains unnecessary minerals (KMedic, n.d.). To avoid staining, it is necessary to prepare a cleaning enzymatic or detergent solution with neutral pH 7 (KMedic, n.d.). Soiled instruments should be soaked in this solution for 20 minutes, brushed with a nylon brush, flushed in cold tap water to clean difficult areas, and rinsed for 3 minutes (United Orthopedic Corporation [UOC], 2017). After that, it is recommended to perform ultrasonic cleaning at 45-50 kHz for 30 minutes (UOC, 2017). Finally, it is necessary to rinse and dry the instruments.
After cleaning, the instruments should be carefully sterilized with steam. All moving parts should be lubricated with surgical lubricants, and the instruments should be covered with a pH-neutral cloth (KMedic, n.d.). The instruments should be stored in a clean and dry place, without being exposed to any chemicals and temperature or moisture variations (KMedic, n.d.). Following these recommendations is essential to prevent corrosion and ensure sterility of orthopedic surgical instruments.
References
Atesok, K., MacDonald, P., Leiter, J., Dubberley, J., Satava, R., VanHeest, A., Hurwitz, S., & Marsh, J. L. (2017). Orthopaedic education in the era of surgical simulation: Still at the crawling stage. World Journal of Orthopedics. 8(4), 290-294. Web.
Gurnea, T. P., Frye, W. P., & Althausen, P. L. (2016). Operating room supply costs in orthopaedic trauma. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, 30, S21-S26. Web.
KMedic. (n.d.). The hand sourcebook. Web.
United Orthopedic Corporation. (2017). Reprocessing instructions for reusable surgical instruments. Web.