ArticleANZ journal of surgery2025
Less trash, more treasure. Waste production and reduction in Orthopaedic surgery.
Article in ANZ journal of surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Quantifying the environmental footprint of primary hip and knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and pooled-analysis of waste generation and carbon emissions.International orthopaedics · 2026Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Sustainable Management of Medical Waste in Surgical Units: Operational Challenges and Policy Perspectives.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Determinants of waste generation in operating rooms.International orthopaedics · 2026Article
- Greening healthcare through circular economy: advancing health and sustainability in policy and practice.European journal of public health · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe operating theatre generates substantial waste, raising environmental concerns. This study quantified the waste generated during four common orthopaedic procedures and identified recyclable materials. It also assessed the associated carbon footprint to highlight opportunities for sustainable waste management.
methodsThis prospective study was conducted at a single regional hospital in New South Wales, Australia, from July to September 2024. Sixty procedures were analysed: 15 total knee arthroplasties (TKA), 15 total hip arthroplasties (THA), 15 ankle fracture fixations, and 15 hand injury surgeries. Waste was categorized as landfill, recyclable, or biohazardous. Landfill waste was further analysed for potentially recyclable components, with data extrapolated to nationwide operation numbers. Carbon dioxide emissions were calculated using the formula tCO
resultsAcross 60 procedures, 425.7 kg of waste was generated, averaging 8.2 kg per case. TKA produced the most waste (11.7 kg per case), while hand injury surgeries generated the least (3.9 kg per case). Potentially recyclable waste constituted 12% of landfill waste, with TKA having the highest recyclable proportion (13%). Recyclable materials comprised 44% of total waste. Proper segregation could reduce up to 75 t of CO
conclusionsA significant portion of orthopaedic theatre waste is recyclable, offering opportunities to reduce the carbon footprint of surgeries. Improved staff training and recycling facilities are crucial for optimizing waste management in healthcare.
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Registered trials
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.