With the continuous progress of medicine, the updating speed of surgical technology and instruments is also accelerating, and then the quality control requirements for surgical instruments are becoming more and more rigorous. The quality of maintenance of surgical instruments directly affects the health of patients. Due to the special contact environment and sterilization environment of surgical instruments, they are more prone to rust, breakage, etc. Sterilization and supply centers can only do a good job of maintenance and repair work in order to enable them to play an effective work performance.

In this issue, we will talk about the sterilization supply center in the maintenance of surgical instruments and maintenance of common problems, as well as the causes of such problems and principles of treatment.

1、Surface changes
Organic residue
Chemical residue
Water deposits
Silicate Discoloration
Stainless steel oxidized black
Titanium oxidized discoloration
 Chrome plating layer peeling off

2、Corrosion
(1) Surface corrosion
Spotty or flaky corrosion phenomenon.
Main cause: Prolonged contact with moisture, condensation, blood residue or acidic/alkaline liquids.
Treatment principle: Specific cleaners and maintenance oils to remove rust.
Hazard: Further into pitting corrosion and stress crack corrosion.

(2) Foreign corrosion
Corrosion caused by "infected" foreign rust.
Main cause: Rust-containing water or steam entering through pipes.
Treatment principle: Specific cleaners and maintenance oils to remove rust, serious corrosion should be replaced, and steam pipes are regularly inspected and cleaned.
Hazard: further become pitting corrosion and stress crack corrosion, or the entire surgical kit instruments produce foreign corrosion.

(3) Friction corrosion
Very easy to accumulate moisture or all kinds of residues of the fragile vulnerable friction area formed by reddish-brown friction corrosion.
The main reason: joints, box joints and sliding contact surface parts of the lubrication is insufficient or entrained debris, resulting in the use of metal surfaces directly rubbing against each other.
Treatment principle: regular lubrication and maintenance, serious need to grind or polish treatment.
Hazard: further become pitting corrosion and stress crack corrosion, seriously affect the use of instruments.

(4) Pitting corrosion
The surface of surgical instruments has pinhole-like black holes and is surrounded by brownish-red corrosive material, and the corrosion point is hole-like.
Main reason: surgical instruments are in contact with saline, tap water or blood stains and other chloride-containing solutions for a long time.
Treatment principle: timely replacement and investigation of the cause.
Hazard: the cavity is easy to accumulate blood, tissue fluid and other residues, and easy to harbor bacteria and bacterial spores, there is a hygienic risk, and it is the starting point of stress cracking and fracture.

(5) Stress Crack Corrosion
Surgical instruments with corrosion (usually pitting corrosion) crack or fracture at the original corrosion point due to the application of stress.
The main reason: instrument corrosion (such as pitting corrosion), resulting in weakening of the strength of the metal material, thus inducing cracks or fractures under the induction of stress.
Treatment principle: Immediate replacement.
Hazard: complete loss of function of surgical instruments and may make the intraoperative instrument debris off, resulting in great risk.

3、Wear and deformation
(1) Wear and tear
Normal wear and tear or abnormal use, resulting in abnormal wear and tear of the working end of the instrument.
Main reasons: long-term use, resulting in normal wear and tear of the working end; abnormal use, resulting in abnormal wear and tear of the working end of the instrument.
Treatment principle: Repair or replacement by specialized manufacturers, and choose high-quality material instruments.
Harm: Reduce the performance of the surgical process.

(2) Deformation
The instruments cannot meet or reach the clinical design requirements.
Main reason: excessive wear and tear or long-term abnormal use, more serious deformation of the functional end.
Treatment principle: immediate maintenance and repair, or replacement.
Hazard: Affects surgical performance.