ABSTRACT
Many operations such as joint replacement, spinal fusion and the various types of internal fixation require special implants and instruments to ensure that the implants are correctly aligned and fixed. Surgeons should familiarize themselves with the implants they plan to use, their advantages and disadvantages and the pitfalls encountered in their use. Most important of all, the surgeon is responsible for ensuring that the necessary instruments and implants (in appropriate sizes!) are available in the operating theatre before starting the operation; the explanation that a particular item ‘was not on the instrument table’ is no excuse for failure.
