Evaluation of hand sensibility with single and double latex gloves

The purpose of this study was to examine hand sensibility of surgeons weari ng single and double latex gloves. Evaluation of hand sensibility, includin g cutaneous pressure thresholds, moving two-point discrimination, and stati c two-point discrimination, was performed on 25 surgeons (mean age 45 years ). The dominant hand. index finger was assessed with no glove, single glove , and double glove. The majority of surgeons had a moving and static two-po int discrimination of 2 or 3 mm. The lowest cutaneous pressure thresholds w ere found when measured with no gloves and increased with single and double gloves. Statistically significant differences in cutaneous pressure thresh olds using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments were found for gloves versus no g loves (p < 0.0003) and single versus double gloves (p = 0.0003). Statistica lly significant differences in moving two-point discrimination were found f or no gloves versus double gloves (p = 0.05) and single versus double glove s (P = 0.02). In conclusion, we found significant differences in hand sensa tion when measured with single and double gloves.