Surgeon Education Reduces Hardware Wastage in Spine Surgery

An educational program for surgeons can reduce unnecessary hardware “explantations” (the placement and removal of hardware/instrumentation) during spinal surgery, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of Spine. Surgeon education reduced the rate of spinal hardware wastage by nearly one-third at the study hospital, resulting in a cost savings of more than $20,000 per year.

“It is an obligation that spine providers are part of identifying and addressing any process or event that does not add value to the care of the patient,” says Kevin McGuire, MD, MS, of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. For more information, click here to read the full release.