Temperature change during orthopedic drilling procedures: An experimental surgical internal fixation simulation study

Background: The purpose of this experimental surgical internal fixation simulation study was to analyze four drilling parameters as a whole, use a thermal camera to observe the temperature, and then determine how these parameters were related to temperature. Methods: Four separate experimental models were examined in terms of the impacts of four drilling parameters, defined as the drill, drill bit diameter, drill bit design, and the material drilled during drilling procedures, on temperature. Results: The temperature was observed to be affected by the drill used, a change in the drill bit diameter, drill bit design, and the characteristics of the material drilled (p < 0.041, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). The speeds of the four drills used were measured as 558 rpm, 1385 rpm, 930 rpm, and 1490 rpm. Conclusion: The findings of the present research demonstrated that the four parameters investigated were related to the temperature formed during drilling. Of the parameters examined, the parameter which increased the temperature the most was a change in the drill bit diameter.