{"title":"The environmental impact of hip and knee arthroplasty: An analysis of carbon emissions and disposal costs","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.surge.2024.04.007","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and purpose</h3><p><span><span>The rise in hip and knee </span>arthroplasty for </span>osteoarthritis<span> requires addressing healthcare system pollution to support Ireland's climate change<span> goals. This research aimed to quantify waste generated and determine environmental and economic impacts to promote sustainable strategies in joint arthroplasty and shed light on the suboptimal waste management practices.</span></span></p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p><span>The study was conducted at National Orthopaedic<span> Hospital Cappagh (NOHC), measuring waste generated during hip and knee arthroplasty<span>. Clinical, domestic, and recycled waste weights were recorded, including the segregation of Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) Blue Wrap waste in ten operations. Kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions (kgCO</span></span></span><sub>2</sub>e) and disposal costs were calculated.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>In a sample of 100 joint arthroplasty operations, the study found that revision knees produced 23.58 kgCO<sub>2</sub>e per case, revision hips 23.50 kgCO<sub>2</sub>e, primary knees 15.82 kgCO<sub>2</sub>e, and primary hips 14.64 kgCO<sub>2</sub>e. CSSD Blue Wrap contributed on average 13.5% of OT waste. Extrapolating these findings to the estimated number of joint arthroplasties performed in 2022 at NOHC (1556 hip and knee joint arthroplasties), the emissions were estimated to be 24,576 kgCO<sub>2</sub>e, with the cost of disposal up to €29,228. Strategies to mitigate this waste have been identified and proposed.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p><span>The research aimed to address the environmental impact of orthopaedic joint arthroplasties, offering strategies to reduce waste generation, carbon emissions, and cost. Utilising our methodology to calculate greenhouse gas emissions will empower </span>sustainability offices to conduct their own waste audits and implementing our strategies for waste management practices can help minimise environmental waste.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":49463,"journal":{"name":"Surgeon-Journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland","volume":"22 4","pages":"Pages 221-226"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Surgeon-Journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1479666X24000398","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"SURGERY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background and purpose
The rise in hip and knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis requires addressing healthcare system pollution to support Ireland's climate change goals. This research aimed to quantify waste generated and determine environmental and economic impacts to promote sustainable strategies in joint arthroplasty and shed light on the suboptimal waste management practices.
Methods
The study was conducted at National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh (NOHC), measuring waste generated during hip and knee arthroplasty. Clinical, domestic, and recycled waste weights were recorded, including the segregation of Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) Blue Wrap waste in ten operations. Kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions (kgCO2e) and disposal costs were calculated.
Results
In a sample of 100 joint arthroplasty operations, the study found that revision knees produced 23.58 kgCO2e per case, revision hips 23.50 kgCO2e, primary knees 15.82 kgCO2e, and primary hips 14.64 kgCO2e. CSSD Blue Wrap contributed on average 13.5% of OT waste. Extrapolating these findings to the estimated number of joint arthroplasties performed in 2022 at NOHC (1556 hip and knee joint arthroplasties), the emissions were estimated to be 24,576 kgCO2e, with the cost of disposal up to €29,228. Strategies to mitigate this waste have been identified and proposed.
Conclusion
The research aimed to address the environmental impact of orthopaedic joint arthroplasties, offering strategies to reduce waste generation, carbon emissions, and cost. Utilising our methodology to calculate greenhouse gas emissions will empower sustainability offices to conduct their own waste audits and implementing our strategies for waste management practices can help minimise environmental waste.
期刊介绍：
Since its establishment in 2003, The Surgeon has established itself as one of the leading multidisciplinary surgical titles, both in print and online. The Surgeon is published for the worldwide surgical and dental communities. The goal of the Journal is to achieve wider national and international recognition, through a commitment to excellence in original research. In addition, both Colleges see the Journal as an important educational service, and consequently there is a particular focus on post-graduate development. Much of our educational role will continue to be achieved through publishing expanded review articles by leaders in their field.
Articles in related areas to surgery and dentistry, such as healthcare management and education, are also welcomed. We aim to educate, entertain, give insight into new surgical techniques and technology, and provide a forum for debate and discussion.
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