FLEXIBLE REAMERS and REAMING HEADS

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Small Reamer

Large Reamer

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Reaming Heads (various sizes)

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Reaming heads are cannulated – flush, brush and flush.

10Use appropriate size cleaning brush to brush the channel

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Shaft – small reamer

Clean the outer shaft with a bristle brush

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Note – inner layers of flexible reamer. Old bone, tissue and probably some cleaning residue can be seen in the flexible reamer following many cleaning attempts manually and by ultrasonic cleaning. These flexible reamers had been sterilised and available for use by theatre.

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Flexible Reamers have and continue to be very difficult to clean, sometimes require repeated processes to ensure removal of bone, blood and tissue.

As seen in picture 12 & 13, not always are items clean. Note the residue remaining in between the coils of the flexible reamer. This is not always detected by observation with the eye or magnifying light. This was observed and noted by marco photography and magnification and was very difficult to see under the magnifying light used for checking instruments.

Flexible Reamers should only be flexed slightly, or as manufacturer specifies. They can become out of shape if over flexed repeatedly.

Cleaning:

Flexible Reamers can be soaked in a diluted enzymatic solution to aid in the cleaning process. It is helpful in the cleaning process if they arrive from theatre already soaking.

Enzymatic cleaning solutions contain enzymes which are capable of breaking downbiological soils containing proteins, lipids carbohydrates and mucopolysaccharides. (AS/NZS 4187 – Definitions page 12)

Rinse off any enzymatic cleaning solution if using a detergent in water to further clean item.

Flexible Reamers should be flushed, brushed and flushed. Use an appropriate size brush for cleaning the cannulation. Flex reamer slightly to aid in flushing debris from the reamer coils.

Ultrasonic cleaning will help loosen soil/debris within the flexible reamer, The flexible reamer will require flushing with clean water following ultrasonic cleaning. Some ultrasonic cleaners have attachments to flush/clean cannulated instruments, if available this is recommended for cleaning flexible reamers.

The outer shaft of the flexible reamer can be cleaned with a bristle brush to help remove any blood/tissue.

Automated washer disinfector following manual/ultrasonic cleaning (as per manufacturer’s instructions).

Flexible Reamers should have air blown through the cannulated shaft to check if any blood or tissue are expelled following cleaning, if this occurs then the cleaning process shall be repeated until the flexible reamer is clean.

Check Reamer Heads for burrs and chipping.