Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) For Prosthetic and Orthotic Materials in the Health Care Sector

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has become a circular analytical framework for quantifying the environmental performance of medical devices throughout their full life cycles. This review integrates methodological fundamental, database selection guidelines, and impact-assessment Pertinent approaches to healthcare applications, with Concentrate on prosthetic and orthotic technologies. By integrating ISO-compliant model-Eling practices, robust inventory datasets like ELCD 3.2 and Eco invent, and modern impact-assessment methods such as ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H), the study shows how methodological strictness ensures reliability and reproducibility in environmental evaluations. Case studies on upper-limb prostheses, reprocessed pneumatic sleeves, remanufactured electrophysiology catheters, and repaired surgical equipment collectively highlight consistent environmental hotspots driven by material extraction, energy-intensive manufacturing, and sterilization processes. Proof shows that circular-economy approaches, remanufacturing, and repair offer substantial reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions and resource consumption while maintaining clinical performance. The findings underscore LCA’s essential role as a decision support tool for promoting sustainable innovation, guiding eco-design pathways, and accelerating the transition toward environmentally responsible healthcare systems.