JBJS Deputy Editor for Social Media Dr. Matt Schmitz highlights a new study that estimates the carbon footprint associated with common orthopaedic procedures.
The climate crisis is debated across the globe, but scientists agree that it is an immense challenge. Weather changes are also becoming a health crisis as a vast number of people are affected by extreme weather conditions.
With that in mind, how does orthopaedic surgery factor into global warming?
In the November 6, 2024 issue of JBJS, Eidmann and colleagues from Germany present the results of a new study in which they analyzed the carbon footprint of 8 common orthopaedic procedures to estimate their impact on climate change. The study, along with a video abstract of the findings, is available at JBJS.org:
Our Impact on Global Warming. A Carbon Footprint Analysis of Orthopaedic Operations
The researchers analyzed total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, knee arthroscopy, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, shoulder arthroscopy, elective foot surgery, revision hip arthroplasty, and revision knee arthroplasty.
They found that orthopaedic surgical procedures produce considerable amounts of CO2. The carbon footprint (in CO2 equivalents) ranged from 53.5 kg for knee arthroscopy to 125.9 kg for revision knee arthroplasty, which the authors note “is equivalent to driving almost 400 or 900 km by car.” The main contributors to the overall carbon footprint were energy consumption (57.5% of all emissions) and the supply chain (34.6%).
The authors emphasize the need for reducing energy consumption and decarbonizing the supply chain to mitigate the environmental impact of orthopaedic surgical procedures. They highlight the importance of raising awareness among orthopaedic surgeons to address the environmental impact of our practices and to make efforts toward sustainability.
As a profession, we should understand our carbon footprint and help to develop methods to minimize that impact. The authors state that, “In addition to a transition toward the use of renewable energy and decarbonization of the supply chain, each individual surgeon can also contribute to reducing emissions through the conscious use of materials, efficient use of operating room capacity, and employing appropriate surgical indications.”
What can each of us do to reduce our carbon footprint within orthopaedics? It’s worth a ponder…
Read the study by Eidmann et al. and access the video abstract: Our Impact on Global Warming. A Carbon Footprint Analysis of Orthopaedic Operations
Matthew R. Schmitz, MD
JBJS Deputy Editor for Social Media
Related reading at JBJS.org:
What’s Important: Engaging Meaningfully with Sustainability Efforts as an Orthopaedic Surgeon
What’s Important (Arts and Humanities): Shouldn’t Our GOAL! Be to Find a Better Way?
