article:
Distal freehand interlocking (DFHI) is perceived as difficult by many community orthopaedic surgeons without residents and surgeons who have not done an orthopaedic trauma fellowship. This is according to a survey of surgeons' practices for DFHI screws and their reasons for not using this technique. A total of 316 surgeons (22.6%) responded to the survey out of the 1,400 orthopaedic surgeons who were sent the survey.
DFHI screws are used in orthopaedic surgery to secure intramedullary nails. These nails are inserted into the bone to treat fractures of the long bones, such as the femur, tibia, and humerus. DFHI screws are used to secure the nail in place and prevent it from rotating or moving within the bone.
Despite the benefits of using DFHI screws, many surgeons avoid this technique because they perceive it to be difficult and time-consuming. This study aimed to investigate the reasons behind this perception and to identify ways to improve the uptake and usage of DFHI screws in orthopaedic surgery.
The survey included a series of statements regarding the difficulty and indications for the usage of DFHI screws. Surgeons were asked to agree or disagree with these statements, and the results were analyzed by practice demographics, resident availability, and completion of an orthopaedic trauma fellowship.
The survey found that fellowship-trained surgeons were 60% less likely to find DFHI difficult when compared to non-fellowship surgeons. This suggests that additional training and education may be necessary to improve the uptake of this technique among inexperienced surgeons.
Furthermore, surgeons with residents were 76% less likely to perceive DFHI as difficult than surgeons without residents. This suggests that having access to additional assistance and support during surgery may help surgeons to feel more confident in using DFHI screws.
In all groups, 40-43% of surgeons used distal interlocking based on their comfort with the technique and not the fracture pattern. This suggests that surgeons may not be using DFHI screws to their full potential and may need additional training to understand when and how to use this technique appropriately.
The study concludes that distal freehand interlocking is an important orthopaedic technique that has many benefits for patients. However, the perception of difficulty and the lack of experience among some surgeons may be preventing its widespread usage.
Therefore, it recommends that additional training and education be provided to surgeons to help them understand the benefits and techniques of DFHI screws. This could include workshops, online courses, and other forms of education that can be accessed by surgeons at their own pace and convenience.
In addition, companies like Sichuan ChenAnHui Technology Co., Ltd. can play an important role in improving the uptake of DFHI screws by providing high-quality orthopaedic implants and instruments to hospitals and clinics. It can also provide customers with procurement, distribution, installation guidance, and after-sales support to ensure that surgeons have access to the latest and most effective tools and techniques for orthopaedic surgery.
Overall, this study highlights the importance of continued education and training for orthopaedic surgeons to improve the uptake and usage of DFHI screws. By working together with companies like Sichuan ChenAnHui Technology Co., Ltd., surgeons can provide the best possible care to their patients and ensure that they have access to the latest and most effective techniques for orthopaedic surgery.