Colloquia

Summary

Over 100 000 orthopaedic surgeries were performed in the Netherlands in 2023. Many bone-removal instruments used in these procedures require high grip strength and large hands, causing issues for a significant number of surgeons. Additionally, the instruments are often difficult to clean. This thesis presents a new bone rongeur usable single-handedly by a 60-year-old female surgeon with low hand size and grip strength, while meeting CSD (Central Sterilisation Department) standards.The design draws inspiration from a ratchet-based rongeur developed by van Gorkum et al. with a demonstrated high mechanical advantage. Using this design as inspiration, a new rongeur was designed from the ground up, with cleanability integrated as a key requirement from the start.Requirements were derived and several ideas explored; a ratchet mechanism was selected and developed further. A new type of rotational joint was designed, providing at least 1 mm clearance to enable effective cleaning.Experiments showed a stainless steel prototype achieved a mechanical advantage of ∼ 11, with a handle span between 100 mm and 40 mm, both appropriate for the intended user group. An interview with a CSD expert confirmed the design’s good cleanability.