When a device is recalled, or a patient presents years later to a different surgeon, the first question is what was implanted. Operation notes are often unavailable, especially when patients move between private and public hospitals.
A simple implant card or discharge summary listing manufacturer, system name and component sizes, with the sticker labels attached, makes recall tracing and revision planning straightforward.
- Attach implant sticker labels to the discharge summary, not only the theatre record
- Give the patient a copy and ask them to keep it with other medical documents
- Record the implant details in the hospital's electronic record where one exists
- Contribute to a national or institutional registry where available
Why it matters
Recalls and revisions depend on knowing the implant, and the patient is the most reliable place to keep that record.
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