Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39482786›Full record

ArticleBMC biomedical engineering2024

Comparing scissors and scalpels to a novel surgical instrument: a biomechanical sectioning study.

Zach Spears, Molly Paras, Lauren Fitzsimmons, Logan De Lacy, Peter Wawrzyn, Sam Conway, Srihari Gopalan, Kyle Muckenhirn, John Puccinelli

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC biomedical engineering, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Zach SpearsDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA.
Molly ParasDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA.
Lauren FitzsimmonsDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA.
Logan De LacyDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA.
Peter WawrzynDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA.
Sam ConwayDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA.
Srihari GopalanDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA.
Kyle MuckenhirnDepartment of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, USA.
John PuccinelliDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA. john.puccinelli@wisc.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis study introduces a novel surgical instrument to reduce iatrogenic nerve injuries during procedures such as carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve decompression surgery. These injuries often result from direct damage to surrounding tissues by surgical instruments, whose designs have remained largely unchanged over the past decades. The novel device is a modified surgical forceps that has a deployable surgical scalpel that runs along a groove on the forceps. This design protects important anatomical structures while allowing fast dissection and cutting of fascial layers.

methodsThe process used to develop a novel instrument included computer-aided design (CAD) modeling, 3D printing for prototyping, and the fabrication of an aluminum prototype. Biomechanical testing was performed with the novel device, iris scissors, bandage scissors, and a scalpel on an MTS Static Materials Test System. The peak force to slide-cut, number of cut attempts, and percentage cut on first attempt were compared between the prototype and traditional surgical tools. The materials cut in testing were Ace™ bandage, stockinette, and gauze. Statistical analyses were performed using Welch's t-tests and Fisher's exact tests.

resultsCompared to conventional bandage and iris scissors, the novel surgical instrument required significantly less force to cut through an Ace™ bandage, stockinette, and gauze (p < 0.01). The number of cuts required to transect those same materials with the novel device was comparable to that of the scalpel and bandage scissors. Additionally, while there were no differences between the novel device and the other devices for an Ace™ bandage and stockinette, the novel device tended to cut a greater percentage of gauze in one pass than did the iris scissors.

conclusionThe novel surgical instrument designed in this study required less force compared to conventional scissors, demonstrated cutting efficiency similar to that of a scalpel blade, and had more safety features than either instrument. This study highlights the value of collaboration between biomedical engineering and orthopedic surgery departments on innovation in medical technology, through which new technologies with improved design and functionality demonstrate the potential to reduce iatrogenic injuries.

Indexed as

Carpal tunnel releaseForcepsNerve decompressionOrthopedic instrumentScalpel

Identifiers

PMID39482786
PMCPMC11529310

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.