Cooperation with Lüdenscheid-based company
The clock is ticking. Climate change continues to advance. This makes the issue of sustainability all the more important. However, sustainability is usually difficult to implement, especially for a hospital and in the operating room, where the top priority is hygiene. In order to be able to guarantee the necessary sterility and 100 percent hygiene, materials are primarily used that are disposed of after a single use.
Nevertheless, it is a concern of the Sportklinik Hellersen to act as sustainably as possible. We are constantly examining how this can be achieved. In the field of endoprosthetics, this path has been paved with a cooperation with the Lüdenscheid-based company UTK Solution GmbH.
It is important for a prosthesis insertion with cement that the bone is bloodless - this means: it must be cleanly rinsed and dried. A "JetLavage" is used to treat the surfaces during the operation and to flush out loose particles produced during sawing, drilling and milling, as well as anything that could interfere with cementing.
The UTK Solution company has made some changes to this system and since then, under the name of "BlueLavage", has ensured a more environmentally friendly operation. By using the BlueLavage system, the waste generated after an operation is reduced and resources are conserved at the same time. This is because the entire system is not disposed of after use. Unlike the JetLavage system, the drive system in the device can be reused at least 150 times. It is recharged in a charging station after each use. And because the rest of the product is made of plastic and contains no metal parts or batteries, no electrical waste is generated with use. The system was developed in 2016 and first used in 2019. In the same year, UTK Solution received the NRW Efficiency Award.
The Sportklinik Hellersen was one of the first clinics to test the system for the first time around three years ago. Dr. Joachim Hagenah, head physician of the endoprosthetics department, found the results thoroughly positive. "In the meantime, we've had the system in use about 400 to 500 times - for both knee and hip surgeries. I am very satisfied with it," says the chief physician. With the introduction, the Sportklinik Hellersen has so far been able to save around 3840 kilograms of CO² annually, as well as 4800 AA batteries and 294 kilograms of electrical waste.
Another plus point for Dr. Hagenah and the Sportklinik Hellersen is their proximity to the company. The latter also has its headquarters in Lüdenscheid. "Having a supplier in the immediate vicinity naturally also contributes to sustainability," adds Dr. Joachim Hagenah.
Press contact
Sarah Burghaus
Head of Marketing, Corporate Communication & PR, Press Spokesperson
sarah.burghaus@hellersen.de
Marie Schulz
Public Relations
marie.schulz@hellersen.de
