BACKGROUND The health-care sector and particularly the surgical sector are major contributors to the exacerbation of the global climate crisis. Little is known about the carbon emissions caused by surgical procedures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the carbon footprint associated with common orthopaedic surgical procedures. METHODS Eight surgical procedures (total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, knee arthroscopy, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, shoulder arthroscopy, elective foot surgery, revision hip arthroplasty, and revision knee arthroplasty) were selected for analysis. The inventory process was performed according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol for all activity occurring in the operating room. RESULTS The carbon footprint (in CO2 equivalents, CO2e) ranged between 53.5 kg for knee arthroscopy and 125.9 kg for revision knee arthroplasty. Energy consumption accounted for 57.5% of all emissions, followed by other indirect emissions (38.8%) and direct emissions (3.7%). The largest single contributors were the supply chain (34.6%) and energy consumption for ventilation, heating, and air conditioning (32.7%). CONCLUSIONS Orthopaedic surgical procedures produce considerable amounts of CO2. Reduction in and greening of energy consumption, as well as the decarbonization of the supply chain, would have the greatest impact in reducing the carbon footprint of orthopaedic surgical procedures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Orthopaedic surgical procedures contribute to the climate crisis by emitting relevant amounts of CO2. It should therefore be imperative for all orthopaedic surgeons to endeavor to find solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of their practice.

中文翻译：

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我们对全球变暖的影响：骨科手术的碳足迹分析。


背景 医疗保健部门，尤其是外科部门是全球气候危机恶化的主要因素。人们对外科手术造成的碳排放知之甚少。因此，本研究的目的是估计与常见骨科外科手术相关的碳足迹。方法 选择 8 种外科手术 （全髋关节置换术、全膝关节置换术、膝关节镜检查、前交叉韧带重建、肩关节镜检查、择期足部手术、翻修髋关节置换术和翻修膝关节置换术）进行分析。根据温室气体协议对手术室中发生的所有活动进行盘点过程。结果碳足迹（以 CO2 当量、CO2e 为单位）在膝关节镜检查的 53.5 kg 和翻修膝关节置换术的 125.9 kg 之间。能源消耗占所有排放量的 57.5%，其次是其他间接排放 （38.8%） 和直接排放 （3.7%）。最大的单一贡献者是供应链 （34.6%） 和通风、供暖和空调的能源消耗 （32.7%）。结论骨科外科手术会产生大量的 CO2。减少和绿化能源消耗，以及供应链的脱碳，将对减少骨科外科手术的碳足迹产生最大的影响。临床相关性 骨科外科手术通过排放适量的二氧化碳来加剧气候危机。因此，所有骨科医生都必须努力寻找解决方案来减轻其实践对环境的影响。