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Session: Medical devices & safety
Session starts: Thursday 24 January, 10:30
Presentation starts: 10:30
Room: Lecture room 535

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Jip Pluim ()
Lucas Jimenez-Bou ()
Reza Gerretsen ()
Arjo J. Loeve ()

Abstract:
INTRODUCTION When sawing during autopsies on human remains, fine dust is produced, which consists of particles of sizes that may fall within the human respirable range, and can act as vectors for pathogens, but may also be mechanically harmful. Similar risks may emerge in clinical practice during many kinds of surgical procedures. As adequate protective measures are not always available, it would be worthwhile to know if risks could be reduced by the choice of the saw used. The goal of this study was to explore the potential effects of saw blade frequency and saw blade contact load on the number and size of airborne bone particles produced. METHODS An oscillating saw was applied with various saw blade frequencies and saw blade contact loads on dry human femora at the Netherlands Forensic Institute. A custom-built setup was used to apply continuous and controlled contact loads. Released airborne particles were counted per diameter by a particle counter inside a closed and controlled environment. RESULTS Results corroborated with the hypotheses: higher frequencies or lower contact loads resulted in higher numbers of aerosol particles produced. However, it was found that even in the best-case scenario tested on dry bone, the number of aerosol particles produced was still high enough to provide a potential health risk to the saw operator and anyone assisting in the procedure. CONCLUSION Protective breathing gear such as respirators and biosafety protocols are recommended to be put into practice to protect medical and forensic practitioners from acquiring pathologies, or from other biological hazards when sawing bone or assisting in such procedures.