Evaluation of sterile glove usage on digital tactile sensitivity using the Grating Orientation Task

Area of Science:

• Surgical Technology
• Human Sensation and Perception
• Medical Device Evaluation

Background:

• Surgical glove use is common practice, but concerns exist regarding its impact on tactile sensitivity.
• Thicker gloves and double-gloving techniques may further impair a surgeon's sense of touch.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively assess the effect of various sterile gloving techniques on digital tactile sensitivity.
• To compare tactile sensitivity across different glove types, including micro-thickness, standard single and double-layer, and orthopedic gloves.

Main Methods:

• The Grating Orientation Task (GOT) was employed to measure tactile sensitivity.
• Participants performed the GOT with different glove types (no gloves, single, double, orthopedic, micro-thickness), with glove order randomized and participants blinded.

Main Results:

• All tested gloves, except micro-thickness gloves, significantly increased tactile threshold values compared to no gloves.
• Micro-thickness gloves showed no significant difference in sensitivity compared to the control (no gloves).
• No significant difference in sensitivity was found between single-layer, double-layer, and orthopedic gloves.

Conclusions:

• Standard latex surgical gloves diminish fingertip tactile sensitivity as measured by the GOT.
• Double-layer and orthopedic gloves do not further reduce sensitivity compared to single-layer gloves.
• Micro-thickness gloves demonstrate potential to maintain tactile sensitivity comparable to ungloved hands.