perform surgery and achieve the best possible outcomes for my
patients," says Brandon Gough, MD, a joint replacement specialist at
the Orthopedic Institute of the West in Phoenix.
Ergonomics is also an important consideration for surgeons and can
also limit surgeon fatigue, according to John Keating, MD, SFOA, an
orthopedic trauma surgeon who practices in Atlanta. Power
tools should be weight-balanced and feature handpieces surgeons can
grip comfortably and easily.
2. Low decibel operation
One quality you might not think about with power tools is how much
noise they make. "Surgeons don't want to work with instruments that
cause their ears to ring while they're operating," says Dr. Gough. "I've
worked with tools that made so much noise, I didn't want to use them
anymore."
The quieter the instrument, the less the stress surgeons will feel and
the better they'll be able to think more clearly and precisely about
how to perform the surgery.
3. Power source
Electric-powered tools tether surgeons to cords, limiting their free-
dom of movement. Many surgeons have therefore opted for battery-
powered options, which give them the freedom to move around the
table without worrying about a cord inadvertently entering the sterile
field or becoming tangled on the floor, where it can become a tripping
hazard for members of the surgical team. "I don't like working with
corded tools because they clutter up the workspace," says Dr. Gough.
Battery life can be a problem with wireless tools, especially during
long, intense cases. Dr. Gough says that's less of a concern now
because newer, lightweight lithium-ion batteries provide plenty of
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