Blood Loss Reduction During Surgical Correction of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Utilizing an Ultrasonic Bone Scalpel

Abstract

The use of an ultrasonic bone scalpel to perform the bone cuts associated with facetectomies and apical Ponte-type posterior releases resulted in significantly less bleeding compared with cuts made with standard osteotomes and rongeurs, limiting overall blood loss by 30% to 40%.

The Reliability of the Ultrasonic Bone Scalpel in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Comparative Study of 46 Patients

“…Another advantage of the UBS is cost effectiveness (1,24), which is a consequence of reduced operative time, decreased blood loss, reduced incidental durotomy rate, and reduced overall operation room time.…”

Influence of curve magnitude and other variables on operative time, blood loss and transfusion requirements in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

“…Intraoperative blood loss approaching 20 % of estimated blood volume (weight in kg 9 70 mls/kg) coupled with intraoperative haemoglobin of 8 g/dL or less, prompted the administration of a second bolus of tranexamic acid (all patients having received a first bolus at induction), and transfusion of one RBC unit. Additional newer techniques such as use of ultrasonic bone scalpels for facetectomies and Ponte osteotomies also show promise in reducing blood loss, although there are limited clinical data to date [35][36][37]. Ultrasonic bone cutters were not in routine use in our institutions during the period of this study.…”

The pattern of blood loss during correction surgery combined with three column osteotomy for adult spine deformity

“…Ultrasonic bone scalpel could cut out laminae in a regular shape limiting the harassment to intervertebral venous plexus. Moreover, the friction between the bone scalpel blade and the bone is believed to reduce blood loss by sealing the cut bone through the heat emitted from the mechanical energy created by the rapid, repetitive movement of the scalpel 9,21 . At the last stage, blood loss was determined by the completion of bone closure and length of incision.…”