Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Orthopedic Surgery Supplement - August 2013

Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.

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orthopedicSurgery2013_Layout 1 7/29/13 2:53 PM Page 54 S U R G I C A L P O W E R and blades, speed is how many revolutions or complete cycles they make in a certain amount of time, while torque is the amount of force they exert. While low speeds with high torque will deliver the best results on large, dense bones, the smaller bones are more aptly handled with low torque and high speed. The TOOL SAFETY Beware the Noise and Splash S SAY WHAT? Researchers suggest surgeons and staff should wear ear protection during orthopedic procedures. urgical power tools can make quite a racket. Noting that orthopedic cases can frequently exceed 100 decibels, a level that carries hearing loss potential, researchers from Howard University in Washington, D.C., examined whether surgical "space suits" offered any noise reduction, as had been implied in pre- dic surgeries in a single day and is posi- vious clinical studies. tioned close to the patient." Space suits — or, at the least, full-face Writing in the November 2009 issue of the journal Orthopedics (tinyurl.com/lsjqp- visors — are essential barrier protection wp), they reported that the space suits against spattering bodily fluids and the pos- offered no protection against the noise. In sibility of infectious exposure. Researchers fact, when the suit's internal fan was on, from the Leicester Royal Infirmary in the noise level inside averaged 61 deci- Leicestershire, England, have determined bels, approximately the volume of casual that the risk of splash injuries to the face conversation. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ increases when power tools are used dur- ing orthopedic surgeries. Their account "If surgical noise is to be decreased, earplugs or muffs must be worn not only by appears in the October 2008 issue of Acta the surgeon, but also by all personnel in the Orthopaedica Belgica, the journal of the operating theater," write the researchers. Belgian Society of Orthopaedics and "At greatest risk may be the anesthesiolo- Traumatology (tinyurl.com/mgu2ceg). gist, who may experience several orthope- 5 4 SUPPLEMENT TO — David Bernard O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E | A U G U S T 2013

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