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Glove punctures in an orthopaedic trauma unit.
J R Eckersley1, D M Williamson
1Accident Service, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
Injury
|May 1, 1990
Summary
Orthopaedic surgeons experienced glove punctures in 37.5% of operations. Double gloving significantly reduced surgeon contamination during high-risk procedures like hip operations and internal fixation.
Area of Science:
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Infection Control
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Trauma surgeons face significant risks of infection due to frequent exposure to body fluids.
- Identifying patients at risk of infection, such as those with HIV, can be challenging in trauma settings.
- Glove integrity is crucial for preventing pathogen transmission during surgical procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of glove punctures during orthopaedic trauma operations.
- To identify surgical procedures with a high risk of glove punctures.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of double gloving in reducing surgeon contamination.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study analyzing 421 orthopaedic trauma operations.
- Documentation of glove punctures during surgical procedures.
- Comparison of contamination rates between single and double gloving techniques.
Main Results:
- Glove punctures occurred in 37.5% of all studied operations.
- Hip operations (57%) and internal fixation (54%) showed the highest rates of glove punctures.
- Double gloving reduced surgeon hand contamination in high-risk groups to 17% (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Glove punctures are common in orthopaedic trauma surgery, posing a risk of infection transmission.
- Specific procedures like hip operations and internal fixation require heightened awareness and protective measures.
- Double gloving is an effective strategy to minimize surgeon contamination and enhance safety in high-risk orthopaedic procedures.