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Power Tools
Power tools are essential for orthopedic, neuro, ENT and oral/maxillofacial procedures. They represent a significant investment (up to $30,000 for a high-speed drill and attachments) and fall into one of three categories:
- High-speed drills, used when bone is repaired, shaped or grafted.
- Large bone saws and drivers, used for large bone cutting and repair.
- Small bone systems, used to repair and shape bones in the hand, foot, head and neck.
Here's a brief review of what to look for when buying power tools.
Speed, power and power source
- Speed. Surgeons want to move quickly through bone, they have more control over a device at a fast speed and a fast tool creates less pressure on the bone. A drill used in orthopedics, podiatry or plastics might have a speed of 1,500 revolutions per minute. High-speed burring will have a wider range, from 75,000 r.p.m. for mastoidectomy to 1,000 r.p.m. for oral/max procedures.
- Power. Power is a product of speed and torque. If speed is not combined with enough torque, the tool can burn through the bone (torque provides a clean cut at slower speeds). If a tool is underpowered, the surgeon will have to push more on the bone. A lower-powered tool might stall when cutting dense bone, or "jump" and injure blood vessels or tissue.
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