[Comparison between the efficacies of two different methods of preparing Esmarch bandages for sterilization]

Sterile Esmarch bandages have a widespread use in orthopedic surgery. We evaluated the efficacy of two different methods of preparing Esmarch bandages for sterilization.

Two groups of Esmarch bandages were used, each group consisting of 25 bandages. The size of the bandages was 6.3 cm in width and 450 cm in length. Before sterilization, the bandages were tightly rolled in one group and loosely folded at a length of 10 cm in the other. An indicator was inserted at every five layers of all bandages. Sterilization was evaluated by subjecting both groups to ethylene oxide cycles and the autoclave method. A standard orthopedic surgical set was used as a control during each sterilization.

Following sterilization with ethylene oxide, all the indicators were found sterile in both groups. Similarly, complete sterilization was obtained in the loosely folded bandages with the autoclave method. However, only the indicators placed in the first 15 layers and the fiftieth layer were fully sterile in the tightly rolled bandages after autoclaving. The number of sterile indicators in the remaining layers ranged from nine (36%) to 23 (92%).

Ethylene oxide is a reliable technique for sterilizing Esmarch bandages. The bandages must be loosely folded, instead of tightly rolling, when the autoclave technique is used.