Serious challenges with bone cement in orthopedic operating rooms: an observational study from Alborz province, Iran

Alongside the numerous advantages of arthroplasty surgery, the extensive complications associated with bone cement contact remain serious chemical hazards in the operating room. The present study aims to investigate the challenges of using bone cement in orthopedic operating rooms.

This is a cross-sectional study conducted from September 2023 to June 2024 with the aim of examining the physical facilities in orthopedic operating rooms and the performance of orthopedic surgical teams in adhering to standards related to the use of bone cement. The performance of 300 personnel working in orthopedic surgical teams in seven operating rooms was assessed. The data collection tools consisted of two checklists, consisting of 15 and 10 items, prepared based on the latest valid international guidelines. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 28.

Data analysis revealed that 14.2% of the operating rooms were in an unfavorable condition in terms of having facilities and physical amenities for the application of bone cement, while the remaining 85.8% had relatively favorable conditions. Regarding the average adherence to performance standards by surgical team members, 14.3% of participants were in an unfavorable condition, 78% were in a relatively favorable condition, and 7.7% were in a favorable condition.

Considering the lack of protective facilities in operating rooms, attention to providing these facilities is essential. Also, based on a deficiency in adherence to some performance standards by surgical team members, training them and giving up-to-date guidelines is recommended.