title: The use of individually wrapped presterilized small orthopaedic implants increase operating time: a prospective experimental study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There have been concerns about the potential increases in operating time associated with the use of individually wrapped presterilized small orthopaedic implants compared with our traditional method of screw banks. We set out to quantify this theory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Theatre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Orthopaedic Surgical Trainees and Theatre Scrub team.
  
  
  METHODS
  The time taken to complete the operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of prepacked and sterilized implants added 2 min 56 s to the use of a bank with a full complement of normal screws that required tapping and 3 min 58 s if self-tapping screws were used (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using individually wrapped presterilized small orthopaedic implants increases operating time.
authors.affiliation: St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College London , Praed Street, Paddington, London W2 1NY.
authors.forename: Yasmeen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Szymon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tokarczyk
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Kyriacos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eleftheriou
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pearce