title: Cranial surgery without head shaving.
abstract: 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.
authors: Division of Neurosurgery, Sendai Shimin Hospital, 4107-7 Nagatoshi-cho, Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima 895-0005, Japan. hiroshitok@nag.bbiq.jp
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Tokimura
authors: Kenichiro
authors: K
authors: Tajitsu
authors: Masahiro
authors: M
authors: Tsuchiya
authors: Hitoshi
authors: H
authors: Yamahata
authors: Ayumi
authors: A
authors: Taniguchi
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Takayama
authors: Masatomo
authors: M
authors: Kaji
authors: Masashi
authors: M
authors: Hirabaru
authors: Takahisa
authors: T
authors: Hirayama
authors: Tomomi
authors: T
authors: Shinsato
authors: Kazunori
authors: K
authors: Arita
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D006203:Hair Preparations; D000431:Ethanol; D002710:Chlorhexidine