Poster 147: Identifying Opportunities to Improve the Environmental Sustainability of ACL Reconstruction: A Life Cycle Analysis

Objectives: Environmental sustainability is a topic of increasing recognition within the field orthopaedic surgery. To decrease carbon footprint procedures, baseline said procedures must be calculated. Life cycle assessment (LCA) most rigorous means establishing overall system and also identifies contribution each step process. The latter allows for targeted reduction approach to address steps with greatest potential impact. Methods: An LCA was employed analyze environmental impacts an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R). were estimated using TRACI 2.1 (Tool Reduction Assessment Chemicals Other Impacts), which developed by Protection Agency. boundary this study included production single-use items, reusable waste management, energy consumed in operating room (OR) (e.g., monitors, lighting fixtures). Required data regarding type quantity materials utilized ACL-R collected via material audit. audit encompassed measuring documenting mass surgical items instruments, as well identifying composition different items. During audit, or instruments disassembled measure specific materials. gases produced, such dioxide (CO 2 ) methane, values converted Global Warming Potential (GWP), metric that indicates how warm earth relative (CO2) equivalents. Results: preliminary results, represented from manufacturing materials, showed plastics followed cotton major contributors global warming being responsible 47% 44% total GWP, respectively. Initial results (64%) (32%) had highest ozone depletion compared other Among six types identified polyvinyl chloride (PVC) contributed depleting layer. PVC commonly found suction tubing. Of OR towels predominant source cotton. Finally, cumulative demand producing one 598 MJ, dominated plastics-based (374 MJ). Conclusions: These findings help identify areas improvement LCA. initial GWP 24 kgCO2eq, similar CO2 emissions driving car 60 miles. utilized, tubing demonstrated significant impact due their cotton, Thus, strategies minimize use these will improve ACL-R. Limitations include limited generalizability surgeries dissimilar error while weighing determining focused evaluation just results. better opportunities ACL-R, further analysis aim determine additional electricity usage, anesthetic gases. Judicious usage are surgeons