title: A randomized prospective study of glove perforation in orthopaedic surgery: is a thick glove more effective?
abstract: We compared perforation rates among operative staff who were randomly assigned either thick latex surgical gloves or conventional gloves for use in performing total knee arthroplasty. A total of 1120 gloves were assessed in 70 total knee arthroplasties. Additionally, the degree of tactile sensitivity provided by the gloves was compared using a two-point discrimination (TPD) test. Perforation occurred in 27 surgeries (38.5%) and in 48 gloves (4.29%). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the operator was a risk factor for perforation rate (Odds ratio 14.448, P < .0.01) and that the type of glove was not (P = .896). In the TPD test, tactile sensitivity was lower for a thick outer glove than the conventional double glove (P < .001 for each site). Not only did thick surgical gloves lower tactile sensitivity, they also offered no superior protective effect over conventional gloves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Dong
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jieun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Byung Ho
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyuk Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Kwan Kyu
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D004868:Equipment Failure; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D005932:Gloves, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: arthroplasty; glove perforation; posterolateral fusion; thick-type latex glove