Creating a “Win-Win”

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Medical practice is increasingly subjected to regulatory “influence.” Many of these rules and regulations improve health care, while others seem to add work without discernible benefit. Still others have a sound rationale, yet require a change in clinical practice which can be frustrating to a clinician, especially if it requires changing a comfortable practice.

I faced this situation when our hospital created a new policy stating that image intensifiers in the Operating Room could no longer be used as an “operating table.” My partners and I had commonly reduced and pinned certain fractures, especially pediatric fractures, using the C-arm as a table. Although penetration of the image intensifier with a drill or pin could have devastating consequences, the risk of this was considered so low as to be irrelevant. However, there were reported instances when preparation fluids such as Betadine or wound irrigation solutions “got into” an image intensifier, causing damage that was not covered under warranty. Thus, our hospital’s imaging department created a new regulation that surgical procedures could not be done “on” the C-arm.

We solved this dilemma by partnering with CFI Medical to create C-Shell™. The inspiration was C-Armor™, which we had been using to keep the C-arm sterile during operative procedures. C-Shell is a carbon fiber cover with a seal that is radiolucent, keeps fluids out of the C-arm, and protects the surface from damage, including inadvertent penetration.

This was a “Win-Win,” because we could continue to use the C-arm as we had, while mitigating the risk associated with our prior approach to using the C-arm. CFI Medical provided the optimal solution for both the hospital and the surgeons.

Andrew Schmidt, MD Andrew Schmidt, M.D.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Hennepin County Medical Center
Minneapolis, MN
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