off-the-shelf prosthesis. They
tend to be lighter than conven-
tional trays, may ease cleanup
after cases and are marketed
with claims of limited reprocess-
ing and storage requirements.
Still new to the market, there are
few options available and evi-
dence supporting some manufac-
turer claims — like a lower risk
of infection — is still limited.
• Patient-specific systems.
These include custom-designed
instrumentation that fits each
individual patient's anatomy.
There are 2 main types of patient-
specific technology on the mar-
ket: patient-specific cutting tem-
plates and patient-specific total
knee implants. For the cutting
guides, patients first undergo a
pre-op MRI or CT scan. That is
then used to make the custom, disposable cutting jig, and the surgeon
then places an off-the-shelf knee implant. For patient-specific
implants, patients also receive a pre-op CT scan, but the manufacturer
then 3D prints a custom cutting jig and a custom implant. These are
delivered to the facility, along with all of the single-use instrumenta-
tion needed for the case, in a single box.
Administrators may like that these specialty systems can keep on-
the-shelf inventory low, says David J. Raab, MD, CEO and president of
7 6 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J U N E 2 0 1 6
To be successful with
outpatient total joints,
you need to have a
streamlined inventory.
— Keith R. Berend, MD
Joint
Implant
Surgeons,
Inc.
