A Critical Incident During The Theatre During A Knee Orif...

In November 2015 , during the first block of clinical placement , a critical incident occurred in the theatre during a knee ORIF surgical procedure . The procedure involves re-alignment of broken bones which are held together by surgical implants such as metal plate , rod , and screws . The team involved in the procedure were an orthopaedic surgeon , a consultant , an anaesthetist , a theatre nurse , a scrub nurse , a radiographer , and a student radiographer . During the procedure , the patient was under general anaesthesia where an incision was made at the site of the injury to repair the fracture . Protocols were adhered to , and a WHO check was carried out . The role of the radiographer was to operate the C-arm fluoroscopy in carrying out series of x-rays as requested by the orthopaedic surgeon . The student radiographer s role was to observe and assist the radiographer when required . During the procedure the student was asked by the radiographer to operate the C-arm fluorosc opy . Whilst screening , the orthopaedic surgeon requested a lateral view of the knee , and as the student radiographer was positioning the C-arm fluoroscopy for the lateral view , the orthopaedic surgeon became very impatient and told the student radiographer in the harsh tone if you can t turn the nob to rotate the C-arm you shouldn t be in the university . The student radiographer felt embarrassed , upset and flustered and could not proceed . So he asked the radiographer to take over