GLOVE PERFORATIONS IN ORTHOPEDIC PRACTICE

Objectives: To determine the overall perforation of gloves due to need le-stick injuries, during orthopedic and trauma operations, to assess the protection provided and to suggest precautions to be instituted. D esign: Prospective collection and examination of 258 pairs of surgical gloves during 116 orthopedic and trauma operations. Setting: King Fah d Hospital, King Faisal University, Dammam. Results: One-hundred and f orty seven gloves (28.4%) were found to be perforated out of which 81% were perforated during trauma and the rest during orthopedic operatio ns. Right glove was punctured in 114 gloves (77. 5%) and the thumb and index finger were the commonest sites. Seventy-two percent of the per forations went unrecognized. One-hundred and eleven gloves were perfor ated during operations of over one hour and thirty minutes (p value < 0.005) Conclusions: Glove perforations during trauma and orthopedic su rgery is common and in the majority of cases goes unrecognized. Surgeo ns appear unaware of cross infection from patient to surgeon and vice- versa nor do they consider precautions mandatory.