Use of reprocessed external fixators in orthopaedic surgery: a survey of 243 orthopaedic trauma surgeons
Abstract Background The increasing financial burden of orthopaedic implants on our health care system has prompted cost-control measures, such as implant reprocessing. The purpose of this study was to describe the current usage by orthopaedic trauma surgeons of reprocessed external fixators (EFs) fo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-06-01
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| Series: | Patient Safety in Surgery |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13037-018-0156-2 |
| _version_ | 1818591622551568384 |
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| author | Sorawut Thamyongkit Malick Bachabi John M. Thompson Babar Shafiq Erik A. Hasenboehler |
| author_facet | Sorawut Thamyongkit Malick Bachabi John M. Thompson Babar Shafiq Erik A. Hasenboehler |
| author_sort | Sorawut Thamyongkit |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The increasing financial burden of orthopaedic implants on our health care system has prompted cost-control measures, such as implant reprocessing. The purpose of this study was to describe the current usage by orthopaedic trauma surgeons of reprocessed external fixators (EFs) for treatment of complex fractures. Methods A 16-question survey about use and perceptions of reprocessed EFs was distributed to 894 Orthopaedic Trauma Association members between August 2016 and June 2017 using a web-based survey system. Results The authors received 243 responses (27%). Thirty-seven percent of respondents reported using reprocessed EFs. Nonprofit hospitals used reprocessed EFs more commonly than did for-profit hospitals (41% vs 15%, P = .0004). Eighty-seven percent of respondents believed reprocessing could be cost-effective. The most common reason (32%) for not using reprocessed EFs was coordination/logistics of reprocessing. Concern about litigation was also reported as a main reason for not using (20%) or having recently stopped using (21%) reprocessed EFs. Conclusions Many orthopaedic traumatologists are interested in the reprocessing of EF components but few have reprocessing systems in place at their institutions. A major barrier to implementation is concern about litigation, which is likely unwarranted on the basis of Food and Drug Administration approval and a lack of previous litigation. Reprocessing by the original device manufacturers has yielded substantial savings at our institution and is an example of the cost savings that can be expected when implementing an EF reprocessing system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T10:15:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-208f3f693dcb49649a0a557698b40be6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1754-9493 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T10:15:22Z |
| publishDate | 2018-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Patient Safety in Surgery |
| spelling | doaj.art-208f3f693dcb49649a0a557698b40be62022-12-21T22:35:28ZengBMCPatient Safety in Surgery1754-94932018-06-011211710.1186/s13037-018-0156-2Use of reprocessed external fixators in orthopaedic surgery: a survey of 243 orthopaedic trauma surgeonsSorawut Thamyongkit0Malick Bachabi1John M. Thompson2Babar Shafiq3Erik A. Hasenboehler4Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University/Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical CenterDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University/Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical CenterDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University/Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical CenterDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University/Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical CenterDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University/Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical CenterAbstract Background The increasing financial burden of orthopaedic implants on our health care system has prompted cost-control measures, such as implant reprocessing. The purpose of this study was to describe the current usage by orthopaedic trauma surgeons of reprocessed external fixators (EFs) for treatment of complex fractures. Methods A 16-question survey about use and perceptions of reprocessed EFs was distributed to 894 Orthopaedic Trauma Association members between August 2016 and June 2017 using a web-based survey system. Results The authors received 243 responses (27%). Thirty-seven percent of respondents reported using reprocessed EFs. Nonprofit hospitals used reprocessed EFs more commonly than did for-profit hospitals (41% vs 15%, P = .0004). Eighty-seven percent of respondents believed reprocessing could be cost-effective. The most common reason (32%) for not using reprocessed EFs was coordination/logistics of reprocessing. Concern about litigation was also reported as a main reason for not using (20%) or having recently stopped using (21%) reprocessed EFs. Conclusions Many orthopaedic traumatologists are interested in the reprocessing of EF components but few have reprocessing systems in place at their institutions. A major barrier to implementation is concern about litigation, which is likely unwarranted on the basis of Food and Drug Administration approval and a lack of previous litigation. Reprocessing by the original device manufacturers has yielded substantial savings at our institution and is an example of the cost savings that can be expected when implementing an EF reprocessing system.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13037-018-0156-2Cost-control measuresExternal fixatorsImplantsReprocessingTrauma surgeons |
| spellingShingle | Sorawut Thamyongkit Malick Bachabi John M. Thompson Babar Shafiq Erik A. Hasenboehler Use of reprocessed external fixators in orthopaedic surgery: a survey of 243 orthopaedic trauma surgeons Patient Safety in Surgery Cost-control measures External fixators Implants Reprocessing Trauma surgeons |
| title | Use of reprocessed external fixators in orthopaedic surgery: a survey of 243 orthopaedic trauma surgeons |
| title_full | Use of reprocessed external fixators in orthopaedic surgery: a survey of 243 orthopaedic trauma surgeons |
| title_fullStr | Use of reprocessed external fixators in orthopaedic surgery: a survey of 243 orthopaedic trauma surgeons |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of reprocessed external fixators in orthopaedic surgery: a survey of 243 orthopaedic trauma surgeons |
| title_short | Use of reprocessed external fixators in orthopaedic surgery: a survey of 243 orthopaedic trauma surgeons |
| title_sort | use of reprocessed external fixators in orthopaedic surgery a survey of 243 orthopaedic trauma surgeons |
| topic | Cost-control measures External fixators Implants Reprocessing Trauma surgeons |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13037-018-0156-2 |
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