Why AO drill bit is favored in orthopedic surgeries?

Accuracy and Improved Overall Design

The AO drill bit provides an exceptional level of detail and design that is particularly well suited for orthopedic procedures. The drill design features a three plane Arnold style drill bit design that helps with the centralizing and axial alignment of the drill bit and avoids disengagement and misalignment that is common in the standard drill bit. The entire design also features a fully engineered and balanced chip removal helix that helps with the removal of bone chips and debris and prevents the accumulation of bone chips and debris during a procedure. This is particularly useful for more extensive procedures such as spinal surgery and joint revisions. The drill bit design also minimizes any damage to the bone tissue ensuring that the overall bone structure is maintained.

Clinical Practicality and Risk Reduction

Clinical experience and research have shown that the AO drill bit can minimize the risks associated with surgical procedures and maximize the efficacy of orthopedic operations. For over 20,000 cases and more than 200 hospitals that have orthopedic drill bit systems, the AO drill bit is the drill of choice for the more challenging procedures that require complex fracture repairs and artificial joint replacements. Because the AO drill bit has better centering, it avoids secondary fracture site damage by achieving perfect bone screw placement. During hip joint replacement, the AO drill bit can smooth out chips and remove them. This results in 15% shorter surgical time than standard drill bits while reducing bone tissue damage by over 30%. Orthopedic surgeons note the AO drill bits also have superior ergonomics that lead to reduced operator fatigue and better surgical control over extended periods.

World-Wide Authoritative Certifications Compliance

Fulfilling worldwide compliance certification standards is another reason for the international recognition of AO drill bits in orthopedics. AO drill bits have demonstrated compliance with the most important certification criteria for orthopedic medical devices provided by the FDA (certified by the United States), the European Union (CE certified), and ISO quality management system certification which is valid in all countries. Furthermore, production and testing are conducted in compliance with the EN 7923 standard which is applicable to all safety, reliability and product operational stability testing. These certifications prove that AO drill bits meet the medical field’s highest standards globally. Such certifications and standard compliances allow medical institutions in varying degree's of development to have rapid access to, and use of, the drill bits and is key to the rapid distribution of AO drill bits across 120 countries.

Cost Benefits of AO Drill Bits for Medical Institutions 

From an economic standpoint, there are clear long-term cost benefits for medical institutions using AO drill bits. The first reason is that the high-strength medical alloy materials are designed to be extremely wear resistant and to last for a long period of time. This means surgical instruments will need to be replaced less frequently, and therefore, surgical instrument purchasing costs will be lower. The second reason is that improved surgical efficiency and fewer surgical complications leads to shorter hospital stays for patients. This is especially true for patients who have orthopedic surgery and are using AO drill bits, as clinical data has shown an average hospital stay that is 2 to 3 days less than that of patients who have had the same surgeries, but have used traditional drill bits. This means that medical institutions are able to have patients occupy hospital beds for shorter lengths of time and are therefore able to generate revenue faster as hospital beds are used more. Lastly, patients who have surgical complications and need to receive additional medical care in order to treat those complications will save money as the services are less expensive for the medical institutions as fewer complications.

Versatility of AO drill bit with current trends of orthopedic surgery

Another reason for the popularity of AO drill bit is that it is highly versatile with current trends of orthopedic surgery. With the global population aging, the occurrence of orthopedic diseases like osteoporotic fractures and degenerative joint diseases, is steadily rising. This increases the need for advanced precision and minimally invasive orthopedic procedures. AO drill bit is a match for the precision and minimally invasive requirements. On top of that, the global orthopedic power tool market is forecasted to grow steadily at a compound annual growth rate of 4.1%, meaning the need for quality drill bits will only continue to grow. With a wide variety of orthopedic power systems, AO drill bit is highly compatible and meets the varied surgical demands of different orthopedic procedures of healthcare facilities. Along with the continuous advancements of orthopedic technology, AO drill bit will continue to be refined according to the clinical requirements. For this reason, the orthopedic applications of AO drill bit will continue to expand.