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in new power tools if batteries fail mid-procedure, saw blades have dulled from
repeated use or other components are showing visible signs of wear and tear.
Here are some of the features to consider when shopping the latest options.
1
The juice
Power is the combination of torque (force exerted) and speed (revolu-
tions or cycles over a given period of time) — and each orthopedic pro-
cedure calls for a different balance of the two. When you're reaming the acetab-
ulum for a hip replacement, for example, you want high torque and low speed,
so the reamer bites into the bone. When you're drilling, you want higher speed
and less torque, so the tool doesn't slip and injure surrounding tissue.
You can't talk about a tool's power without talking about its power source
— meaning, battery, pneumatic or electric. I'm partial to battery-powered
tools, because you don't have to worry about cords, which may inadvertently
contaminate the sterile field and are one more thing OR staff can trip over.
Also, the advent of the lithium-ion battery means I don't have to worry about
whether the battery will have enough juice to get me through a long case.
Although today's batteries easily last through a 45-minute to hour-long joint
replacement case, I always have a backup available in the event that the pri-
mary battery runs out of life mid-pro-
cedure.
Remember: Batteries are bound to
lose their ability to hold a charge over
time. That means you'll face ongoing
costs for purchasing replacements,
which can run $200 or more. Ask your
vendor about a battery's expected
lifespan and how it will stand up to the
rigors of sterilization, so you can budg-
et accordingly.
• HUMMING ALONG Striking the perfect balance between torque
and speed makes power tools sing.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
