As mentioned in an earlier comment, the specific implant used is a required element of the operative report. The exact serial number / lot number is also located in the hospital records of the operation and maintained for 10 years at a minimum. To ask surgeons to track down these numbers and include them in the dictated operative report is not only redundant, but takes time away from direct patient care. The serial numbers of every implant are recorded and maintained by the hospital. Asking a surgeon to redundantly do the same is unnecessary and actually harmful in that it would create unnecessary delays in patient care.