Estimating the true costs of disposable and reusable instruments.

The real issue in the debate about reusable versus disposable surgical instruments is the true cost and efficacy of specific instruments. Each device needs to be scrutinized on its own merits and analytically compared to other instruments. The goal of this case study was not to promote one type of instrument over the other but to focus on some of the data elements and complex issues involved in determining true costs, cost-effectiveness, and efficacy of the reusable and disposable instruments.