Heat generation by ultrasonic bone curette comparing with high-speed drill.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonic bone curettes have been used as with high-speed drills. However, the amount of heat generated by the ultrasonic bone curette is not well known. This study quantitatively assessed the heat generated by an ultrasonic bone curette and compared it to that by a high-speed drill. METHODS: The thermal change in a swine skull during bone curetting using an ultrasonic device and a high-speed drill were assessed. The investigation focused on the type of surgical manipulation (brush-like strokes vs. pushing motion) and irrigation (room temperature vs. cold water; low-volume irrigation vs. high-volume irrigation). RESULTS: The thermal elevation during drill use was suppressed when using brush-like strokes compared to pushing motion (brush-like strokes, 44.7 °C; pushing motion, 69.2 °C; p < 0.01). Cold-water irrigation while drilling had a small effect compared to room temperature (RT) water (RT, 44.7 °C; cold, 35.2 °C; p = 0.12). The temperature generated by the curette was higher than that generated by the drill (curette, 72.5 °C; drill, 44.7 °C; p < 0.01). High-volume irrigation was required to reduce the heat generated by the curette (no irrigation, 88.6 °C; low-volume, 72.5 °C; high-volume, 60.5 °C; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The ultrasonic bone curate generated more heat than the high-speed drill. During surgical manipulation, the use of brush-like strokes by both the high-speed drill and the ultrasonic bone curette is necessary to avoid excess thermal elevation. Irrigation with RT water is sufficient to avoid heat generation. High-volume irrigation is required to reduce the heat generated by the curette.