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away. Dr. Dugas notes that while 4K is definitely a "nice improvement," there's
limited research showing it offers any clinical advantages over standard HD.
"Does it make you a better doctor? I don't know that it does," he says. "But, it
does provide crisper imaging, which is especially nice when looking at anatomy
such as cartilage."
Improved imaging isn't the only thing surgeons desire. EMR integration and
the ability to record, annotate and send photos and video via e-mail are other
sought-after features of the new arthroscopy systems, says Dr. Safran. That's
become even more important as the government pushes more facilities to go
paperless, adds Dr. Dugas. "Integration is very important," he says. "Being able
to integrate with EMRs seamlessly and efficiently is a great bonus."
Finding a way to ensure docs get the high-tech features they want while you
rein in costs is essential, says Greg DeConciliis, PA-C, CASC, administrator of
Boston Out-Patient Surgical Suites in Waltham, Mass. He notes that in addition to
an arthroscopy system's performance and cost, you also should evaluate the serv-
ice agreement and ask vendors about bundling the purchase with other essentials,
such as wands, shavers and burrs. "The more you package into the trial, the better
you'll do cost-wise," he says.
2. Stronger, smaller anchor systems
Surgeons' desire for strong, minimally invasive anchor systems has created a
slew of new options over the last few years, says Dr. Dugas. "We've gone from
metal 2-prong and 4-prong anchors, to plastic, to absorbable, to hybrid, and now
we're seeing soft, inert, all-suture anchors," he says.
The all-suture anchor system's tiny size is much less traumatizing to the
bone and surrounding soft tissue than other larger metal or PEEK systems, yet
it offers equivalent or better holding power, says Dr. Safran. "When you put in
a metal screw, or even an absorbable screw, it tends to leave a gap in the tis-
sue," he explains. "If you can get away with using a smaller device, and not
