Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

This aim of this research was to identify events in the operating theatre process (described as glitches) during elective orthopaedic operations. Two pairs of observers, each consisting of a clinician and a human factors professional, examined primary and revision hip and knee arthroplasties, arthroscopies and knee ligament reconstructions in two UK hospitals. The categorisation procedure revealed 11 key areas of glitches within the collected data. Observations of 42 operations revealed 314 glitches within the 11 categories. The rate of glitches per operation ranged from 1 to 18, with an average of 8 per operation. Most commonly observed were distractions, equipment design and technical process deviation issues. A coordinated intervention to address a range of areas could benefit the efficiency and safety of orthopaedic surgery, and there are benefits in considering the standardisation of observation studies in the operating room. Copyright 2011 by Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Inc. All rights reserved.

Original publication

DOI

10.1177/1071181311551142

Type

Journal article

Journal

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

Publication Date

28/11/2011

Pages

685 - 689