The need for surgery-ready trauma implants and instruments is rising globally. Why so? Simply because there is a global rise in the incidence of trauma, right from simple fractures to life-threatening injuries. Road accidents are continuously rising. In fact, data suggests a 10.5% increase in road accident cases in 2021 as compared to 2020 in the US.

Named as one of ten most disabling diseases by WHO, degenerative bone diseases such as arthritis, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, etc. are increasing globally and this has contributed to the rise in orthopedic trauma. The growing geriatric population is also contributing to the rise in trauma cases globally.

Together, these factors have led to the massive increase in the need for trauma implants and instruments. These implants and instruments help save patient lives and improve their overall quality of life.

What exactly are trauma implants and instruments and how to choose the right ones? Keep reading to find out some information about trauma implants and instruments.

Trauma and Common Causes

Orthopedic trauma is any injury causing damage to the organs in the musculoskeletal system. These include injuries to the bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles and so on. Traumatic injuries can take the form of a fracture, tear, break or dislocation that need to be treated immediately by an orthopedic trauma specialist to prevent long-term impact on the patient’s overall health and well-being.

Traumatic injuries are commonly caused by external force such as accidents, sudden fall or even a violent attack. Here are the common causes.

  • Road traffic accidents
  • Home accidents (such as slipping, twisting motions, etc.)
  • Sports injuries
  • Work accidents
  • Sudden falls
  • Natural disasters
  • Physical violence
  • Natural wear and tear or injuries from overuse
  • Unintentional injuries caused due to the natural aging process or degenerative bone diseases)

Trauma Implants

Trauma implants are medical devices used in the repair of broken bones and fractures, augmenting affected bones / joints, replacement of damaged joints or in tumor surgeries in the arms, legs, shoulders, or skull. These implants help treat patients with different degrees of movement impairment caused by injuries, diseases or the natural aging process. They help improve the patient’s mobility and quality of life.

Types of Trauma Implants

  • Locking plates: Internal fixators for stability and bone healing
    • Locking compression plates
    • Distal femur locking plates
    • Reconstruction locking plates
    • Anatomical plates
    • Philos plates with locking system
  • Non-locking plates: Internal fixators for stability and bone healing
    • Dynamic compression plates
    • Olecranon plates
    • DHS plates
    • L buttress Plates
  • Bone screws: Used with or without plates to immobilize fractured bones and aid healing
    • Cortical screws
    • Cancellous screws
    • Malleolar screws
  • Interlocking nail systems: Used in the repair of traumatic fractures in long bones
    • Halifax Nail
    • Halder Humeral Nail
    • Femoral nail
    • Tibial nail
    • Humeral nail
    • Proximal femoral nail
  • External fixation: Used to immobilize bones and ensure their proper healing
    • Rods
    • Screws
    • Clamps (joint, universal, mini)

Trauma Instruments

Trauma instruments are surgical instruments used in trauma surgeries. They help in a range of surgical processes including drilling holes in bones, detraction, clamping, grasping, providing visualization and much more. They also help ensure that the implants are properly inserted and that they stay in position. Without the right surgical instruments, trauma surgeries cannot be performed.

Examples of Trauma Instruments

  • Bone cutters
  • Ratchets
  • Bone holding forceps
  • Bone levers
  • Wire cutters and twisters
  • Bone curette
  • Distractor
  • Disc forceps
  • Reduction clamps, etc.

How Trauma Instruments and Implants are Manufactured is Critical

The design, development and manufacture of implants and surgical instruments used have a direct impact on the success of trauma surgeries. For instance, if the material used in the trauma implant is not non-corrosive, then the patient will be left at a high risk. If the materials of the inserted implants cause too much friction and thereon, heat, it will harm bone tissues.

Similarly, if the screws or plates aren’t designed based on bone and weight specifications, they may not hold up. If the manufacturer doesn’t test the quality of raw materials or doesn’t quality check the implants and instruments before packaging, the risks of failure and post-operative infections are high.

So, it is critical that the trauma implants and instruments are designed with utmost care, manufactured with precision, tested for quality, and are packaged in a sterile and safe manner.

Material Selection in Trauma Implants

Implant manufacturers must choose the right materials to ensure patient safety and the best surgical outcomes. The following factors are considered in choosing raw materials for trauma implants.

  • Corrosion resistance to ensure the implants should not react with bodily fluids and corrode.
  • Biocompatibility to prevent inflammation caused by bacteria.
  • Durability to ensure the implants stay intact for long, without sustaining damages from load or friction.
  • High tensile strength and load bearing to ensure implants can withstand tensile and bending loads.
  • Ductility to ensure the implant can adapt to anatomical contours.

Keeping these factors in mind, the materials most commonly used in trauma implants are:

  • Titanium
  • Stainless steel
  • PEEK
  • Bioabsorbable materials

Precision in Design and Manufacture

Both surgical instruments and implants used in trauma surgeries must be produced with utmost precision. At Gesco, we have a team of seasoned experts in R&D, engineering and medicine who come together to design implants and instruments. The designs and prototypes go through iterations and tests before going into production. The tests at various levels of production and packaging help ensure precision.

Rigorous Quality Checks

Rigorous quality checks at all stages of production help ensure that the implants and instruments are of excellent quality. This helps ensure the durability of implants, better surgical outcomes and improved patient healing. While choosing your manufacturer, check if they have quality certifications such as ISO.

At Gesco, we have a culture of quality checks that starts from quality testing raw materials and continues well upto packaging. And since we produce 98% of our products in-house, we can control the quality of every implant and instrument.

Sterility and Cleanliness

This has a direct impact on the surgical outcomes and patient safety. From the cleanliness of the production facility to the quality of raw materials to the sterility of packaging materials, everything should be examined regularly.

Conclusion

At GESCO Healthcare , we produce a range of superior-quality, surgery-ready trauma instruments and implants that are competitively priced. Want to know more about our durable and reliable trauma implants and instruments? Get in touch now.