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S U R G I C A L
P O W E R
programmable settings available on
and saws are widely available and
some tools can make these balances
widely used.
Battery-life lengths and recharge
easy to set up.
Many surgeons like drills that incor-
demands are much discussed among
porate oscillation modes because they
surgical tool users. Sometimes sur-
provide a measure of protection to
geons don't get the same amount of
patients. Drill bits that don't make full
life out of them each time, and when
revolutions, but instead repeatedly
sterilizing the battery is necessary, it
and quickly make part of a turn, then
can affect the amount of charge batter-
turn back, are less likely to catch,
ies hold and deliver. But overall, the
twist and damage tendons, blood ves-
benefits of tools powered by lithium-
sels, nerves or soft tissue.
ion batteries, currently the industry
Don't neglect weight and ergonom-
standard, are many.
First and foremost, battery-operated
ics. A power tool that's lightweight
and fits nicely into surgeons' hands is
tools add no additional cord clutter to
less likely to fatigue their shoulders
the OR, freeing surgeons and staff to
and arms over the course of a proce-
greater mobility with fewer tangles
dure, which means they'll maintain
and potential trips and falls. Battery
better control and achieve better out-
power also prevents the risk of non-
comes.
sterile cords contaminating the surgical field as surgeons maneuver tools
2. Battery benefits
in and around joints. A study pub-
When I got started in surgery about 15
lished in the November-December
years ago, we used pneumatic tools
2002 issue of the Journal of
that were connected with tubing to
Orthopedic Trauma (tinyurl.com/
wall sources of compressed air for
kmy8vo6) noted the exhaust produced
power. Electrically powered tools also
by pneumatic power tools very likely
required lengths of cord, which teth-
disperses bacteria across the surgical
ered surgeons to power consoles or
field, unless they are fitted with con-
outlets. Today, battery-powered drills
tained exhaust systems. That's anoth-
5 6
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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
