Can surgical gloves be made thinner without increasing their liability to puncture?
A new process has been used to develop Biogel Super-Sensitive gloves which are thinner but theoretically as strong as standard Biogel gloves. The two types of glove were compared for their effects on manual sensitivity and dexterity in a randomised controlled trial. The Super-Sensitive gloves impaired sensitivity significantly less than standard gloves but made no difference to the ability to tie knots. No statistically significant difference was shown in the resistance to perforation between the two types of gloves. Surgeons who prefer more sensitive but relatively strong gloves should find the new gloves useful.
Carter
S
S
Department of Surgery, Ealing Hospital, Southall, Middlesex.
Choong
S
S
Marino
A
A
Sellu
D
D
D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005932:Gloves, Surgical / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D013537:Sutures; D014110:Touch