Single-Use Screws and Plates

Joanna Ford (R&D Officer, SMTL), Tomos Rodrigues (R&D Officer, SMTL) & Pete Phillips (Technical Director, SMTL)

Small orthopaedic implants such as screws and plates that are prepared for, but not used for surgery, are often reprocessed many times. This has led to concerns about the impact of multiple episodes of reprocessing on implant quality. In addition, there are concerns over the regulatory implications of reprocessing implants, traceability of individual implants and contamination issues. This document discusses issues relating to reprocessed implants and compares them to pre-packaged, pre-sterilised single-use implants by addressing issues such as implant quality, regulatory compliance, compatibility of implants with instrumentation, cost, storage, training, management and supply. NHS Scotland moved to pre-packaged, pre-sterilised single-use implants in 2008 and feedback concerning their experience of this transition has been included in the updated report (see link below). The Scottish experience has been generally positive.

There appear to be advantages in moving to pre-packaged single-use plates and screws, but there may be some logistical problems in adopting such a policy. These are discussed in the updated report (see link below). On balance there are genuine clinical and risk-management benefits in moving to single-use pre-packaged small implants in the Welsh NHS.

The updated version of a document that was first published online in 2010 can be found here:

Single-use screws and plates - 2023 update