## Introduction
A single spinal instrument tray can represent an investment of over $20,000. To protect this investment and ensure patient safety, hospitals must follow a rigorous **Sterilization and Maintenance Protocol**. Improper care is the leading cause of instrument rust, seizure, and failure.
## 1. Immediate Post-op Care
The “Gold Standard” is to rinse instruments within 10 minutes of the surgery’s end.
* **Avoid Dried Blood:** Once blood dries, it causes “pitting corrosion” on stainless steel.
* **Use Cold Water:** Hot water “cooks” proteins onto the metal, making them nearly impossible to remove.
## 2. Proper Cleaning Techniques
* **Enzymatic Soaks:** Use pH-neutral cleaners to break down organic tissue.
* **No Metal Brushes:** Never use steel wool or wire brushes, as they destroy the “passive layer” of the instrument, leading to immediate rust.
* **Ultrasonic Cleaning:** Essential for the complex lumens of cannulated pedicle screw drivers.
## 3. The Lubrication Phase (“Milk”)
Moving parts like rongeurs and ratcheted drivers must be lubricated before autoclaving.
* **Surgical Milk:** A water-soluble lubricant that ensures hinges stay smooth and do not seize during the intense heat of the autoclave.
## 4. Autoclave Standards
Following **ISO 17665**, ensure that trays are not stacked too tightly and that the “Dry Cycle” is fully completed. Moisture trapped in a tray is a “bacteria highway.”
## Conclusion
Instrument care is as important as surgical technique. By utilizing Ortholyx’s validated cleaning instructions, hospitals can ensure their spinal trays remain in “factory-new” condition for thousands of procedures.