A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T 4 1
in the middle of procedures, and tools jam or lock
when they should cut and bore. When that time
comes, consider the following factors to ensure your
surgeons work with equipment that delivers consis-
tent power where it's needed most.
1
Performance and feel
If orthopedic surgeons were to quantify the
tactile "feel" of a power tool's operations into
measurable physical conditions, it's likely they'd
mention speed and torque. In this context, a tool's
speed is the number of revolutions a drill bit makes
or the number of cycles a saw blade completes in a
specified amount of time. Torque is the amount of
force that the tool's working implement exerts.
These 2 factors determine how quickly and effi-
ciently a tool can place an implant screw or cut
through bone, and different procedures require a dif-
ferent balance of the two. Large, dense bones such
as the femur are most effectively handled at low
speed and with high torque. Conversely, small bone
surgeries such as hand and wrist cases demand low
torque, but high speed. Equipment that's easy to set
up can save you a lot of time, and easily adjustable
or even pre-programmed settings can let surgeons
rapidly adapt a tool to suit the procedure at hand.
There's more than one way a power tool can do
the work for you. Many of the latest models have
been designed with ergonomics in mind: lightweight,
Tools?
• HOLE TRUTH To an orthopedic surgeon,
a properly working power tool feels like an
extension of the hand.
