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. 2025 Jan 4;49(2):323–334. doi: 10.1007/s00264-024-06397-w

Table 2.

Five studies reporting reasons for implant waste

Reasons for implant waste, % (n/total waste)
Ast et al., 2014 Epstein et al., 2015 Soroceanu et al., 2011 Zywiel et al., 2009 Zywiel et al., 2010
Type of surgery TKA Spinal surgery Spinal surgery Trauma surgery TKA, THA
Length of study (months) 12 31 15 18 18
Number of procedures investigated (n) 1450 1304 6531 1901 TKAs; 1542 THAs
Total number of implants wasted (n) 83 190 739 37 35 TKAs with waste; 44 THAs with waste
Human factors for waste 83 (68/83) 95.4 (181/190) 74.29 (549/739) 95 (35/37) TKA waste events, 66; THA waste events, 80
Size selection indecision 55.4 (46/83) 11.6 (22/190) 44.11 (326/739)
Surgeon factors 70 (133/190)
Mistakenly opened implant 8.4 (7/83) 1.1 (2/190) 3.24 (24/739)
Opened but not implanted 7.4 (14/190)
Contamination 7.2 (6/83) 4.2 (8/190) 26.93 (199/739)
Defective or damaged during use 12.0 (10/83) 1.1 (2/190)
Non-human factors for waste 4.7 (9/190) 25.71 (190/739) TKA waste events, 34; THA waste events, 20
Case cancellation 15.83 (117/739)
Equipment failure 4.06 (30/739)
Other/no reason stated 14.5 (12/83) 5.82 (43/739)

Abbreviations: THA, total hip arthroplasty; TKA, total knee arthroplasty