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A Sheffield based surgical manufacturer, who specialises in creating bespoke ‘made to measure’ surgical instrumentation, has developed the world’s first shoulder and elbow kit following a request from a leading Sheffield orthopaedic surgeon.

 

Platts & Nisbett has a reputation across the UK for high quality design, craftsmanship and performance and unlike other surgical instrument makers offer a unique hand crafted service which allows instruments to be made to surgeon’s exact specifications.

After hearing about this service, Orthopaedic Consultant David Stanley from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, contacted the family-run company to see if they could develop a range of instruments specifically for shoulder and elbow revision surgery

Mr Stanley was concerned that were no specific surgical instruments available on the market for this type of procedure and that existing instruments were cumbersome to use and often restricted surgeons’ vision.

Working in collaboration, the pair combined ‘clinical expertise with manufacturing knowledge’ to create a range of hand made instruments that include a series of small chisels and cement splitters with offset handles that allow an improved view of the intramedullary canal during the cement removal process.

In addition they also created ring curettes, cement extraction hooks and cement plug removers, all of which facilitate the safe and effective removal of cement and preparation of the bony canal.

Alyson Nisbett, Director of Platts & Nisbett, said: “We work closely with surgeons to build long lasting partnerships for the future and were delighted when Mr Stanley contacted us about our ‘made to measure’ service. Throughout a series of meetings we discussed our ideas with Mr Stanley, who was able to make his own suggestions to tailor the instruments to the needs of the surgeon.

"By being able to see and feel the prototypes the surgeon could visualise how the instruments would be used, and offer valuable input during the manufacturing stage. This development process was vital, and resulted in a bespoke kit being designed and manufactured within six weeks.”

David Stanley, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, said: “Revision shoulder and elbow arthroplasty surgery is demanding and time consuming. Without the right instruments the vision of surgeons is severely restricted making the procedure even more difficult. I believe that in the future it will provide the shoulder and elbow surgeon with greater confidence when undertaking difficult revision procedures.”

The team of over 20 highly skilled engineers are all apprentice trained and the company has just taken on new two more apprentices within the last year to ensure they are developing the next generation of surgical instrument makers.

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