title: Preoperative skin marking and perioperative checks require careful thought: a report of a near miss.
abstract: A patient marked preoperatively for ulnar nerve decompression under general anaesthesia was found to have symmetrical operative site markings. The correct skin mark was transferred to the other side by her sleeping position the night before surgery. Skin marking is an adjunct to safe surgery but is not failsafe.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Hurstwood Park Neurosciences Centre, Haywards Heath, Lewes Road, West Sussex, UK. mjncrocker@gmail.com
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Crocker
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Norris
mesh_terms: D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors; D008875:Middle Aged; D061214:Patient Safety; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D012867:Skin; D013653:Tattooing; D014457:Ulna / Q000294:innervation*