Pilot study: Post-surgical infections could be related with lack of sharpness in surgical tools.

Despite rigorous sterilization protocols placed in surgical procedures, there is demonstrated evidence that show patients contract infections while hospitalized. This study aims to investigate the presence of biological materials in osteotome surgical tools after sterilization processes, determine the relationship between lack of sharpness and cross-contamination, and evaluate the influence of materials surface coating as a potential contamination preventive. Three commercially available osteotomes with different surface coatings were studied and submitted to a procedure of bone-cutting cycles.

Directionally-Dependent Mechanical Properties of Ti6Al4V Manufactured by Electron Beam Melting (EBM) and Selective Laser Melting (SLM).

An investigation of mechanical properties of Ti6Al4V produced by additive manufacturing (AM) in the as-printed condition have been conducted and compared with wrought alloys. The AM samples were built by Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and Electron Beam Melting (EBM) in 0°, 45° and 90°-relative to horizontal direction. Similarly, the wrought samples were also cut and tested in the same directions relative to the plate rolling direction.

Pilot investigation into osteotome hard surface coating and cutting-edge degradation.

Background: Osteotomes are bone cutting tools commonly reused in orthopedic surgical procedures. Despite undergoing rigorous cleaning, visual inspection, and sterilization procedures between every use, the condition of the cutting blade edge is commonly not qualitatively assessed. Subjective feedback from surgeons suggests a large variation in osteotome cutting-edge sharpness is found during use.