Using smaller instrument trays in hand surgery can reduce costs and improve operating room workflow, according to a study in Current Orthopaedic Practice.
Researchers conducted the single-site observational study at an academic medical center. They decreased the ambulatory hand set from 105 to 16 instruments. Using the calculated cost to process an instrument, study authors identified cost savings per tray.
Study authors estimated the labor cost to be $0.14 per instrument, which rose to $0.60 per instrument after including operating expenses. Decreasing the hand tray in certain procedures was estimated to save $31,500 per year. The smaller tray also led to higher satisfaction scores among operating room staff.