Razors versus clippers. A randomised controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Surgical patient care
• Infection control
• Medical device comparison

Background:

• Preoperative hair removal is common practice before surgical procedures.
• Traditional methods like razors can cause skin trauma.
• Alternative methods such as clippers are available but less studied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient preference between razor and clipper hair removal.
• To assess surgical site trauma associated with each method.
• To determine if hair removal technique impacts postoperative infection rates.

Main Methods:

• Randomised controlled trial conducted in a day surgery unit.
• Inclusion of patients undergoing various procedures (e.g., hernia, varicose veins).
• Data collection on patient preference, skin trauma, and infection outcomes.

Main Results:

• Patients demonstrated a preference for clippers over razors.
• No statistically significant difference in skin trauma was observed between razors and clippers.
• Postoperative infection rates were similar regardless of the hair removal method used.

Conclusions:

• Patient preference favors the use of clippers for preoperative hair removal.
• Both razors and clippers appear equally safe regarding skin trauma and infection risk.
• Clippers offer a viable and preferred alternative for preoperative hair removal in day surgery settings.