title: Single-use instruments, cutting blocks, and trials increase efficiency in the operating room during total knee arthroplasty: a prospective comparison of navigated and non-navigated cases.
abstract: The purpose of this prospective controlled trial was to determine if efficiency increases could be achieved in non-navigated and navigated total knee arthroplasties by replacing traditional saws, cutting blocks, and trials with specialized saws and single-use cutting blocks and trials. Various timing metrics during total knee arthroplasty, including operating room preparation times and specific intra-operative times, were measured in 400 procedures performed by eight different surgeons at 6 institutions. Efficiency increases were the result of statistically significant reductions in combined instrument setup and cleanup times as well as in adjusted surgical episode times in navigated total knee arthroplasties. Single-use instruments show promising benefits, but adequate patient follow-up is needed to confirm safety and efficacy before they can be widely adopted. Nevertheless, the authors believe that the use of single-use instruments, cutting guides, and trial implants for total knee arthroplasty will play an increasing role in improving operating room efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics, Center for Joint Preservation and Replacement, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21215, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mont
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McElroy
authors.forename: Aaron J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pivec
mesh_terms: D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004526:Efficiency; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000458:organization & administration*; D061646:Operative Time; D011446:Prospective Studies; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: cutting block; efficiency; instruments; single-use; time saving; total knee arthroplasty; trial