An Easy Step-By-Step Guide to Decontaminating and Maintaining a Bone Mill

Surgeons carry out a variety of surgical procedures. To perform these surgeries successfully, they need multiple tools. One of them is a bone mill that assists surgeons in grinding up bones for grafting.

However, this instrument can only work efficiently when cleaned and maintained correctly. Decontamination is crucial in cleaning a surgical tool, and sterilization is part of it. Using unsterilized tools can cause disease to spread from one patient to another.

So, in this blog, you will learn a step-by-step guide to decontaminating and maintaining them. First, however, let’s look at the significance of decontamination.

Advantages of Decontamination

There are many advantages of decontaminating bone mills, but the most noteworthy are the following.

• The procedure kills all the germs that can harm the patients.
• It also removes all the excessive blood, pus, and other dust particles over the tool’s surface. Such contaminants may be harmful to the next patient if left behind.
• Decontamination also saves these surgical tools from corrosion.
• It cleans the breeding ground for pathogenic organisms.

All the benefits mentioned above illustrate that sterilization of surgical scissors is essential. Next, look at the different steps of this cleaning procedure.

Decontamination Procedure

It is crucial to decontaminate the bone mill before cleaning. The procedure consists of the following step:

• Pre-Cleaning

The decontamination procedure starts with pre-cleaning. For this, soak the instrument in a pH-neutral enzymatic solution. It will dissolve all the blood debris or dust from the surface, making it ready for effective Cleaning.

Then, rinse it with distilled water. Never use tap water, as it can leave residues on the tool’s surface. Now, it is ready for cleaning.

• Manual Cleaning

Manual Cleaning is the next step. Use nylon-bristled brushes to clean the tool’s surface. When bone residues are on the tool after surgery, it is preferred to use stainless steel bristle brushes to clean the serrations only. Don’t use this brush on the tool’s surface, as it may damage it.

On top of that, only use the recommended cleaning solution for manual Cleaning. Otherwise, non-recommended solutions can cause pitting or staining on the instrument surface.

• Ultrasonic Cleaning

Ultrasonic cleaning is an effective cleaning method as it removes all bioburden. Also, it is a safe method, as it doesn’t cause any damage to the instrument’s surface. During this procedure, use a pH-neutral enzymatic solution. Submerge the surgical bone mill entirely in the solution, but don’t overload the tools.

• Rinsing

The next step after ultrasonic cleaning is rinsing the tool with distilled water. Rinsing is essential because it removes all residues left behind. Don’t let the tools air dry after rinsing; dry them with a towel.

• Lubrication

After air-drying the tools, it is vital to lubricate the hinged tools. For this, use a water-soluble, steam-permeable lubricant. You can apply the lubrication with a spray or immerse the instruments in a lubricant milk bath.
Now, the surgical tool is ready to undergo sterilization.

• Sterilization

Sterilization is a step next to lubrication. Again, there are different methods, but steam sterilization is best for these tools. Start the process by placing the curettes in a perforated tray and then in a sterilization container.

The procedure is safe at 270°F (132°C) for 15 minutes; still, you can follow the manufacturer’s manual for effective results.

• Storage

After sterilization, the next step is storage. Again, storing the instruments in a dry and clean environment is essential. In addition, pack them in an air-tight bag so the moisture will not harm their surface.

Furthermore, always thoroughly check the functioning and key inspection areas to ensure the long life of the tools.

Maintenance and Care

Proper care is necessary when using a surgical instrument. So, handling surgical bone mills with vigilance is crucial to protecting the skin from damage when grinding the bone for grafting.

That is why below are some tips for efficiently using these tools.

• Use a tray or container to organize surgical tools.
• Apply a proper sterilization process before using any surgical procedure.
• Avoid placing your surgical tools in a pile of heavy surgical tools.
• Use sterile solutions to decontaminate them after use.
• Avoid chemical solutions that may damage the protective coating on the sharp surgical tools.
• Properly dry and store your instruments in a place free of humidity.
• Avoid placing them in a pile of heavy surgical tools.

All these instructions will keep them safe for a long time. Thus, surgeons can use the same surgical tool multiple times with proper care.

Are You Looking for Autoclavable Bone Mills?

Every surgical instrument in healthcare centers needs to be properly sterilized to check the spread of diseases. That is why surgeons always look for sterilizable surgical tools with high quality.

If you also want to equip your clinic with an easily sterilizable surgical bone mill, consider GerMedUSA, which has been a reliable manufacturer of surgical tools for the last three decades. They provide various surgical tools with multiple variations.

Their surgical tools are sterilizable and reusable. Most of their tools are German-forged, durable, and robust. They are also resistant to rust and corrosion. Besides, they also offer customization of surgical instruments to meet the demands of their customers.

FAQs

What is the purpose of sterilizing bone mill instrument?

Sterilization removes all germs and infectious microorganisms from the tool’s surface. Thus, it helps prevent contagious diseases from spreading from one patient to another.

What is the difference between sterilization and disinfection?

Disinfection removes harmful microorganisms from the surface, while sterilization kills all forms of microorganisms on the tool’s surface.