Pioneer surgeon drove ultra clean technology

On the 50th anniversary of the development of his ground-breaking hip replacement surgical technique, Amanda Parkin, communications consultant with clean air technology specialist, Howorth Air Technology, examines Professor Sir John Charnley's influence on orthopaedic surgery, and explains how his realisation that any subsequent infection may not appear until long after the operation, and that keeping bacteria away from the wound during the procedure is the the key to minimising the risk, led to the emergence of 'ultra clean' operating theatre technology - within which Howorth was an early pioneer.