Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
Murine Neural Plate Targeting by In Utero Nano-Injection (NEPTUNE) at Embryonic Day 7.5
Published on: February 14, 2022
Surgical pearl: a simple means of disarming the "locked and loaded" needle
Joy Kunishige1, Rungsima Wanitphakdeedecha, Tri H Nguyen
1Mohs and Derma Surgery Unit, Department of Dermatology, University of Texas-MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Background:
Surgery, in any setting, has several inherent risks not only to the patient, but the physician and his assistants as well. Safe handling and management of the sharps to prevent inoculation injuries is one of these risks, in particular: 1) instrument hand-off of the needle and needle driver between the physician and his assistants; 2) retrieval of instruments from the surgical tray.
Objective:
The authors' review a simple means of disarming the needle loaded in the needle driver to reduce sharps injury.
Methods:
Before the needle and needle driver are either handed off to the assistant or returned to the surgical tray, pivot the needle 90 degrees toward the instrument joint. The needle's point should be directed toward and touching the needle driver, and thereby, disarming the needle. To avoid dulling the needle, the point should not be grasped by the needle driver.
Conclusions:
Disarming the loaded needle may reduce the chance of sharps injury during instrument hand off and retrieving instruments from the surgical tray.
