Yun, Taesik;Jung, Soo Yeon;Kang, Kyongmook;Yun, Seon-Jong;Koo, Yoonhoi;Park, Jooyoung;Kim, Ill-Hwa;Kang, Hyun-Gu
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As more veterinary clinics become specialized with the growth of the companion animal market, an increasing number of veterinary clinics perform orthopedic surgery and use orthopedic products, some of which are defective and have side effects. Thus, the present study aimed to prepare fundamental data for the revision and development of manufacturing standards for these products in order to prevent their side effects. We conducted a survey targeting veterinary clinics as consumers and medical device companies as suppliers. Veterinary clinics were surveyed via offline and online methods; 320 clinics that offered orthopedic surgery and approximately 4,000 veterinary clinics that were registered in the Korean Veterinary Medical Association were targeted, and 153 veterinary clinics responded to the survey. The survey for medical device companies, was performed online, targeting 29 companies; 14 companies responded. The number of side effects of orthopedic products was higher in animal orthopedic products than in those for human use. Many consumers tended to suspect that side effects were caused by product defects. To resolve side effects after using orthopedic products, consumers mostly underwent reoperation. Meanwhile, some severe cases proceeded to legal disputes. Similarly, medical device companies, or the suppliers, responded that most side effects occurred in veterinary orthopedic products and that product defects and mistakes in use were the causes. As for most of the follow-up actions for side effects, these companies either reported the issue to those in charge or analyzed and resolved the issues themselves. Therefore, to develop quality products, suppliers should be provided with clear standards for the production, and information disclosure and a report system for side effects should be particularly established to gain consumers' trust regarding the safety of these products.