Thermally sensitive retention mechanism for orthopedic cutting instruments

A method for preventing reuse of an orthopedic cutting instrument comprising:

• providing an orthopedic cutting instrument comprising a driver component and a cutting component;
• wherein:
• the cutting component comprises a plurality of holes;
• the driver component is adapted to provide a rotating torque motion and comprises an end portion comprising at least one axial bearing boss and at least one torque bearing boss, said torque bearing boss releasably engaged to at least one of said cutting component plurality of holes and does not soften during steam sterilization;
• the at least one axial bearing boss is engaged within at least one of the plurality of holes of the cutting component to couple the driver component to the cutting component;
• and
• the at least one axial bearing boss comprises a temperature sensitive material such that when said cutting instrument is exposed to steam sterilization, the at least one axial bearing boss disengages from the at least one of the plurality of holes of the cutting component and converts to a form that will not allow engagement of said driver component to said cutting component thereby preventing reuse of the cutting instrument;
• and wherein said cutting component has a perimeter and at least one hole in said plurality of holes in said cutting component is positioned either along or within 1-10 mm of said cutting component perimeter.