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S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | A U G U S T 2 0 1 4
ware. If you're in the market to equip or upgrade your tool chest, here are some
key factors that surgeons say make a big difference in getting the job done.
1. Power source
Without the juice, no work is going to be getting done. You've got 3 options:
pneumatic-, electric- and battery-powered devices. Traditional pneumatic tools
are connected via tubing to tanks of the compressed air that makes them go.
Electric tools are similarly corded to power consoles or outlets. But battery-
operated tools are becoming increasingly common, if not the standard choice.
The rechargeable lithium-ion batteries offer numerous advantages, all of them
linked to eliminating cords from the OR. Untethered instruments allow surgeons
more freedom of movement and mobility. They won't compromise the surgical
field by dragging a cord across it. Plus,
they don't add to the cord clutter of
surgical technology and its attendant
tangles and trip-and-fall risks. Be sure,
however, to research the estimated
battery lifespan and recharging time
for the tools you're considering, as
you'll want to ensure they're reliable
when they're needed.
2. The business end
A tool's speed and torque are also measures of its effectiveness, efficiency and
precision in cutting, boring or shaving. Speed indicates how many revolutions or
complete cycles a drill bit or saw blade makes in a certain amount of time.
Torque quantifies the force exerted by the tool.
Different types of anatomy require different balances of the 2 variables.
Larger, denser bones, such as the femur, are best handled with low speed and
high torque, for instance, while the smaller, more delicate bones of the hand and
wrist need high speed and low torque. As a result, a tool that features program-
S U R G I C A L I N S T R U M E N T S
STAND BY Make sure your tools are easily
assembled, disassembled, and reprocessed
for use and reuse.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
