Injury
Volume 32, Issue 1 , Pages 37-40, January 2001

Current practice regarding re-use of trauma instrumentation: results of a postal questionnaire survey

  • Robert U Ashford

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Present address: WHO Collaborating Centre for Metabolic Bone Diseases, University of Sheffield Medical School, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK. Tel.: +44-114-2711725; fax: +44-114-2739176
    • ,
  • Ketan C Pande
    • ,
  • Abhijit Dey

Sheffield Metabolic Bone Unit, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2JF, UK

Accepted 27 June 2000.

Abstract 

A total of 248 Orthopaedic Units in the UK were surveyed following two newspaper articles about broken drill bits being retained in patients’ bones. Questions were asked about re-use of drills, guide wires and taps, as well as about informing patients when drill bit fragments were left in situ during trauma surgery. The response rate was 79.0%. The majority of hospitals are not using new drill bits for each case nor new guide wires. In the current medicolegal climate, the fact that the majority of consultants are informing patients soon after surgery that a drill bit has fragmented in their bone is applauded.

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S0020-1383(00)00128-5

Injury
Volume 32, Issue 1 , Pages 37-40, January 2001

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution