Kakulamarri Shravya, Wahle Charlotte F, Smith Lacey, Sabharwal Sanjeev
Institute for Global Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
University of California San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital, 747 52nd St, Oakland, CA, 94609, USA.
Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2025 Jun 23. doi: 10.1007/s12178-025-09985-4.
Frugal innovations prioritize low-cost interventions, while keeping in mind efficacy, accessibility and scalability. Despite a scientific culture that often celebrates major financial investment and cutting-edge technologies, frugal innovations can be just as important in both low-income countries where resources are scarce as they are high income countries where the health needs of aging populations may be outpacing economic growth. We sought to comprehensively review the current state of frugal innovations in orthopaedic surgery, as well as to identify next steps as the importance of these low-cost interventions continues to grow.
Frugal innovation is particularly relevant in orthopaedic care as musculoskeletal interventions such as prosthetics, orthotics and surgery demand significant materials, skilled labor, and frequent follow-up. There have been numerous innovations in the recent years, including the development of low-cost intramedullary nails, bioabsorbable implants, negative-pressure wound therapy systems made from aquarium pumps, repurposed Foley catheters and nasogastric tubes for use in surgeries, among many more. Frugal innovations in orthopaedic surgery are becoming more relevant and rapidly evolving in all health-care settings as a tool to deliver value-based care to the growing needs of the population. Though many of these projects are performed on a local scale, when considered collectively, they demonstrate powerful efforts to move the needle in enhancing access to high-quality orthopaedic surgical care and reduce the burden of global musculoskeletal disability. Frugal innovations offer immense promise in reducing costs and closing the gap of access to high-quality orthopaedic care worldwide.
节俭创新优先考虑低成本干预措施，同时兼顾疗效、可及性和可扩展性。尽管科学界常常推崇重大金融投资和前沿技术，但节俭创新在资源稀缺的低收入国家与高收入国家同样重要，在高收入国家，老龄化人口的健康需求可能超过经济增长速度。我们试图全面回顾骨科手术中节俭创新的现状，并随着这些低成本干预措施的重要性不断增加，确定下一步的方向。
节俭创新在骨科护理中尤为相关，因为诸如假肢、矫形器和手术等肌肉骨骼干预措施需要大量材料、熟练劳动力和频繁的随访。近年来有许多创新，包括低成本髓内钉的开发、生物可吸收植入物、由水族箱泵制成的负压伤口治疗系统、重新利用用于手术的 Foley 导管和鼻胃管等等。骨科手术中的节俭创新在所有医疗环境中变得越来越重要且发展迅速，成为一种为不断增长的人群需求提供基于价值的护理的工具。尽管许多这些项目是在当地开展的，但总体来看，它们展示了在提高获得高质量骨科手术护理的机会以及减轻全球肌肉骨骼残疾负担方面的有力努力。节俭创新在降低成本和缩小全球获得高质量骨科护理的差距方面具有巨大潜力。
