A Review of Orthopaedic Surgical Set-Up and Introduction of the TULIPS Mnemonic – Six Simple Steps for Optimising Set-Up in Orthopaedic Surgery

Conducting a thorough check to ensure that all equipment and personnel are positioned correctly at the start of any operation is essential for both the safety of the surgical team and the patient outcome. Orthopaedic surgery in particular carries a high risk of occupational injury and this group could benefit greatly from ergonomic improvements. This review highlights multiple factors that can influence safety of surgeons, surgical efficiency and patient outcomes. “TULIPS” is a mnemonic that lists six key steps in optimising the surgical procedure through effective positioning of equipment and personnel pre-operatively. This was trialled by distribution amongst orthopaedic registrars regionally and it received excellent feedback, with the majority changing their current practice. Here we report that using this simple and memorable checklist can assist orthopaedic surgeons in setting up the operating theatre, facilitating ergonomic improvements that can reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury and radiation exposure.