SynthesisInternational orthopaedics2025
Implant waste and associated costs in trauma and orthopaedic surgery: a systematic review.
Synthesis in International orthopaedics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
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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.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Article
- Waste in orthopaedic surgery; an application of the healthcare sustainability mode and effect analysis.International orthopaedics · 2025Article
- The cost of implant waste in trauma orthopaedic surgery and sustainability considerations: an observational study.International orthopaedics · 2025Observational
- Do we have that nail on shelf? Comparing the financial burden of stocking an orthopaedic theatre: intramedullary nails versus innovative locking rods for femoral and tibial shaft fractures.Orthopedic reviews · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
purposeTrauma and orthopaedic (T&O) surgery relies on medical implants and materials, often resulting in metalwork wastage (prosthesis, screws, nails, and plates). This places an economic strain on healthcare services and the environment. Our primary outcome is to quantify the implant wastage across the literature, and secondarily investigate the associated costs in this specialty.
methodsA literature search of three databases (Scopus, PubMed and Embase) was performed using MeSH terms relating to "implant waste" and "trauma and orthopaedic surgery", from January 1980 to November 2023. We included any observational studies that reported patients undergoing T&O surgery, where the wastage or associated costs was reported.
resultsOur search returned 2,145 articles, of which 15 met the final inclusion criteria, encompassing 26,832 procedures. Nine studies reported the extent and cost of waste, six reported the weight of waste and ten concurrently reported the cost. Implant waste events occurred in up to 30% of all T&O procedures, being the most likely to occur in fracture fixation, and cost hospitals between $4,130 and $189,628.41 annually. Screws were the most wasted material, followed by plates and nails. Up to 95% of waste events were caused by human factors.
conclusionDespite the limited number of studies, there is an economic burden and environmental footprint in T&O surgery services. The main factors contributing to the waste was human error, and contamination. Further research is required to determine methods of mitigating and limiting implant waste in T&O Surgery.
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