Cranial surgery without head shaving.
OBJECTIVE
Based on a series of 632 patients who underwent craniotomy without head shaving, we report the efficacy and safety of our simplified procedure and document the usefulness of the electrosurgical scalpel.


METHODS
After brushing a chlorhexidine-alcohol solution onto the craniotomy site, the hair was parted from the incision line and fixed with adhesive paper drapes. In recent cases, electrosurgical scalpels were used for scalp- and subcutaneous dissection. At the end of surgery, the wound was closed in the usual manner, taking care that no hair was in the wound and the hair and wound were rinsed with clean water in the operating room. We did not apply disinfectant for postoperative wound care, rather, the hair was shampooed on the 2nd, 4th, and 6th postoperative day.


RESULTS
Among 632 patients who underwent cranial surgery without head shaving, only 7 (1.1%) developed postoperative wound infections. None of the 34 patients who underwent craniotomy using the electrosurgical scalpel developed wound infections.


CONCLUSIONS
Our simplified cranial surgery without head shaving does not increase the risk of wound infection. Because the use of the electrosurgical scalpel for skin and soft tissue dissection minimizes bleeding, the probability of wound infection appears to be reduced.
Tokimura
Hiroshi
H
Division of Neurosurgery, Sendai Shimin Hospital, 4107-7 Nagatoshi-cho, Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima 895-0005, Japan. hiroshitok@nag.bbiq.jp
Tajitsu
Kenichiro
K
Tsuchiya
Masahiro
M
Yamahata
Hitoshi
H
Taniguchi
Ayumi
A
Takayama
Kenji
K
Kaji
Masatomo
M
Hirabaru
Masashi
M
Hirayama
Takahisa
T
Shinsato
Tomomi
T
Arita
Kazunori
K
D000368:Aged; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003399:Craniotomy / Q000379:methods*; D004598:Electrosurgery; D000431:Ethanol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006197:Hair; D006203:Hair Preparations; D006204:Hair Removal; D006406:Hematoma / Q000601:surgery; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D053832:Surgical Tape; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D006203:Hair Preparations; D000431:Ethanol; D002710:Chlorhexidine