There's plenty for orthopedic teams to worry about in surgery's most physically demanding and messiest specialty as they work to repair sports injuries or shore up balky joints ravaged by Father Time. Here are game-changing products that promise to improve outcomes and increase efficiencies while protecting patients, staff and surgeons.

— Outpatient Surgery Magazine Editors

Take-Home DVT Prevention
Patients are at risk of developing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli even after they leave the PACU, but Covidien's Kendall SCD Homecare Program provides a safe and effective post-discharge continuum of care. Disposable leg compression sleeves squeeze sequentially from the bottom up and gradient pressure decreases in an upward movement to move blood up the leg. The bladder goes from tip to tip to inflate the whole sleeve, which wraps entirely around the leg. Covidien's partnership with a durable medical equipment provider means patients receive the units at home at no cost or hassle to you or your physicians.

Recall-Free Fluid Waste Management
Want to manage fluid waste without having to jump through the hoops mandated by the FDA recall of a competing product? Check out the Dornoch Medical System Ultraflex Fluid Carts from Zimmer Surgical. High-flow suction manifolds capture and collect fluid runoff in lighted reservoirs, which are linked to the company's evacuation station through a nozzle connection. The nozzle drains the fluid, applies and drains an enzymatic cleaner and dispenses an EPA-approved disinfectant — the only device on the market to do so — without exposing staff to the dangers of handing infectious waste.

Safety-Centric Spine Table
Allen Medical's new customizable Allen Advance Table features a 600-lb. weight capacity and has intuitive directions for engaging and disengaging the one-touch electronic braking system, tilting the table's surface to put patients in prone or supine positions and "flipping" patients mid-procedure. An H-bracket structural design eliminates the possibility of the table collapsing if staff members pull the wrong pins while adjusting the surface's position. Table pads made of multi-layer density foam with gel coatings and a new chest pad designed to better accommodate women's breasts during surgery help protect patients' skin.

Easy-to-Apply Wound Irrigation
Irrimax Corporation recently released Irrisept, the first FDA-approved wound irrigation and debridement product containing chlorhexidine gluconate. This 2-step system has been proven effective against MRSA, pseudomonas and other harmful bacteria. The system's first bottle contains 0.05% CHG, which is applied to the surgical site and allowed to sit for 1 minute, giving it time to bind with tissue proteins and bacterial cell walls. After the CHG is suctioned out of the wound, the saline rinse contained in the second bottle is applied. The pre-packaged system is ready for use, and because surgeons don't have to mix their own antibiotic-saline cocktails, it improves surgical efficiencies.

OR Apparel That's Really Cool
Surgical professionals often bake under hot surgical lights when OR ambient temperatures are set high in order to maintain normothermia in patients. The CoolVest system — a 10-ounce vest made of ventilated nylon with variable flow designed for personal comfort and available in sizes small to XXL — keeps the surgical team comfortable and focused on the tasks at hand. Various hose lengths that connect to a low-profile cooling system allow for freedom of movement around the OR. The cooling unit is easily stored, and its pump is guaranteed for life.

Disposable Power Tools
Always at the Ready
Insurgical Powered Instruments' line of single-use power tools, recently approved by the FDA, come pre-packaged, pre-sterilized and ready for use in a matter of minutes, letting you avoid the temptation to run conventional power tools through immediate-use sterilization cycles. Unlike reposable power tools that require the use of proprietary saw blades, each of Insurgical's oscillating saws comes pre-packaged with adaptors, which lets surgeons use their blades of choice with the company's handpieces. Surgeons can also opt for one of the company's saw blades from a complete line of sizes.

Easy-to-Use Shoulder Cannula
Some cannulas are easy to use, but limit instrument mobility. Others provide mobility, but are hard to use. The new elastomer SportPort from Cannuflow toes the middle ground, providing surgeons with a flexible port that passes curved instruments with ease for improved access to the shoulder joint through the same-size incision as a standard smooth cannula. The device lets surgeons perform the preferred switching stick "railroading" technique, features a unique fluid side port and forms a fluid-tight seal around instruments to prevent squirting.

Eliminate Cross-Contamination in Comfort
The Suctioner from Flagship Surgical is a latex-free, anti-microbial, disposable mat that collects fluid waste and helps reduce cross-contamination risks. Its quiet but effective high-suction vacuum keeps floors dry during cases, contributing to a cleaner and safer work environment while allowing for easier clean-up and faster room turnovers. The mat quickly and easily attaches to the OR's main suction source, and its non-slip ergonomic cushioning promotes surgeon and staff comfort by reducing the strain and stress of standing for hours on end during busy days.

Endoscopic Carpel Tunnel Release
Surgeons are able to send patients back to work sooner thanks to MicroAire's SmartRelease endoscopic tunnel release system. The system's disposable blade is inserted through a small incision at the base of the wrist, giving surgeons clear endoscopic views of the transverse carpal ligament's underside and surrounding anatomy. Surgeons then pull the system's trigger to elevate the blade and incise the ligament with a few strokes, resulting in less distal palmar tenderness and faster recoveries compared with open releases.

Smart and Precise Power Tools
Stryker's new line of System 7 Power Tools feature an upgraded motor, a new blade design and a smaller, lightweight design that combine to create faster cuts, more torque and high-speed precision. Proprietary lithium-ion batteries, available in large and small sizes, power the tools longer than those in the company's previous generation of tools did. When charging, the batteries transfer performance data collected from handpieces for remote diagnosis by Stryker service teams. The company's reps are able to identify potential performance issues, help troubleshoot basic problems and track handpiece usage for improved inventory management and decreased wear and tear.

Operate Arthroscopes With a Single Hand
Improve the efficiency of arthroscopy with the Starfish from Arthrex. This innovative rotational control device attaches to the proximal end of an arthroscope with its arms extended toward the camera head. A surgeon is able to change the scopes' directional views by manipulating the Starfish with the tip of his index finger while continuing to manipulate instruments with his non-camera hand — all without pausing for two-handed scope operation.

Improved Access to the Ankle Joint
The De Mayo Ankle Distractor from Innovative Medical Products eliminates the need for a member of the surgical team to hold the patient's leg in place, freeing them to perform other tasks during the case. Its unique design lets it sit flush with the table's edge, allowing surgeons more working space at the end of the table for improved access to the posterior regions of the joint. Built-in straps hold the foot and ankle rigidly in place and push the thigh to create the traction force, which the surgeon can change quickly and easily without assistance.