There are a number of reasons why surgeons may wish to use a nerve locator when doing surgical procedures. These nerve locator devices were developed to assist surgeons in locating and identifying exposed motor nerves during surgery to reduce the risk of damaging or severing them.
Here are a few of the most prominent reasons:
A “Call Julie” damage prevention plan for surgeons
A nerve locator can be a big asset to surgeons. Some have likened the use of this device to the damage prevention of the “Call Julie" program. Before digging in their yards, people are required to "Call Julie" and find out where there may be water pipes, electrical wires or other underground cables that could be damaged or destroyed during the digging process.
Using a nerve locator during surgery to locate and avoid damage to motor nerves is similar to locating what is underground before digging in order to prevent damage to those underground utilities and cables. In the same way a person locates underground wires and cables before digging, surgeons can locate the vulnerable motor nerves so they can be protected and not damaged during the surgical procedure.
Avoiding complications and medical malpractice claims
Surgeons, patients, hospital administrators and directors of out-patient surgery centers are all keenly dedicated to reducing complications of all surgical procedures. One complication that is particularly disconcerting involves damage to motor nerves. This occurs most often during head, neck, hand and facial plastic surgery.
Nerve severance, burning or other damage occurring during surgery is a known risk. It is presented in almost all surgery consent forms. Patients sign the consent, acknowledging they are aware that such damage could occur. Even so, when a patient is faced with the permanent loss of nerve function due to damage that occurred during surgery, medical malpractice claims often follow.
Low cost and ease of use
In addition to reducing the surgical risk to exposed motor nerves, the portable, hand held, battery-operated Aaron Neruo-Pulse nerve locator device is economical and easy to use.
The Neuro-Pulse nerve locator is based on the historic series of products manufactured by Bovie Medical with similar design features. As reported on Global Medical Solutions,
“The [Bovie Medical] company began in the late 1970s as a manufacturer of disposable penlights for the medical industry. The success of this line prompted the development and manufacturing of battery-operated, tubular products, with the same type of assembly manufacturing technologies.”
Some of the other battery-operated, tubular devices include specialty pen lights, flexible lights, cautery devices and even the Aaron Ophthalmic Burr. All of these devices are economical and easy to use as well.
Bovie Medical Corporation has been manufacturing products to assist surgeons since the 1970s. The corporation has a reputation for good design and manufacturing, as well as, excellent customer service. It continues to design and improve state of the art products to assist surgeons in the operating room. The Aaron Neuro-Pulse Nerve Locator is one more quality device surgeons can use to reduce complications patients may experience as a result of a surgical procedure.
