The use of non-orthopaedic devices for orthopaedic procedures.

The field of orthopaedics is constantly undergoing development through progress in basic science and clinical investigation. Being a dynamic specialty, surgeons have continued to develop ways to improve surgical steps in order to become more efficient and effective. This has involvedmodifying nonorthopaedic devices to suit particular procedures, resulting in relevant regulatory advice. A study aimed at the review of published technical tips relating to the use of non-orthopaedic devices by surgeons in orthopaedic practice and to address compliance with regulatory advice was undertaken. A literature review of published technical tips in three leading journals: Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons England (2002e2010), The Surgeon (2002e2010), and Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica (2005e2010), using the online archives of these journals was carried. Terms including ‘technical tips’ and ‘techniques’ were employed for the search. We divided the reports into those dealing with trauma, elective and general orthopaedic procedures. Letters written in response to the published technical notes were also scrutinised (Table 1). Thirty-three technical tips were identified in the three journals in which non-orthopaedic devices had been used for orthopaedic procedures. Table 2 shows a summary. Of these,