Evaluation of Surgical Bur Deformation and Bone Surface Roughness After Multiple Uses

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the present in vitro study was to microscopically evaluate and describe the deformation of Lindeman surgical burs and the bone surface roughness after repeated osteotomies and sterilization cycles.

Materials and methods: Twenty-one Lindeman surgical burs were analyzed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate the damage of the bur's integrity after 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 osteotomies on bovine ribs. Eighteen bone specimens were obtained after osteotomy for roughness analysis using profilometry. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the mean roughness values across the experimental groups, and P ≤ .05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.

Results: Representative SEM images illustrated that all analyzed burs presented with some type of deformation at both the tip and the body, even after their first use. The mean roughness values were independent of the number of uses (P > .05); however, the standard deviation increased with the number of uses of the burs.

Conclusions: These results suggest that even after their first use, rotatory surgical burs will have some type of deformation and that their cutting efficiency on the bone will vary and will be difficult to predict.