In the high-velocity ASCs, the single-use instrument kit has become the "easy button" for throughput.
By sidestepping the logistical nightmare of the Sterile Processing Department (SPD), disposables allow ASCs to churn through joint replacements with industrial precision. But as we enter 2026, a new set of pressures—regulatory, environmental, and social—is forcing us to ask: Is the efficiency of "one-and-done" worth the long-term cost?
To go beyond the surface-level debate of "plastic vs. metal," we must look at the hidden drivers and recent data shaping the next five years of orthopedic surgery.
Below are four different perspectives around the disposable question.
Perspective 1: The SPD Workforce Crisis is the Real Driver
While environmentalists point to plastic waste, ASC administrators point to a different problem: people. The "Shadow Bottleneck" of the ASC is the chronic shortage of trained SPD technicians.
The Labor Gap: Recent studies highlight that SPDs are frequently understaffed and plagued by "motion waste"—technicians spending excessive time searching for instruments or waiting for accessible computers (Almukhtar et al., 2024).
The "Throughput" Subsidy: Single-use ki...
