Effect of a Clean Surgical Airflow Layer on the Incidence of Infection in Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Effect of a Clean Surgical Airflow Layer on the Incidence of Infection in Total Hip Arthroplasty.
Orthopedics. 2020 Aug 03;:1-6
Authors: Routh LK, Parks NL, Gargiulo JM, Hamilton WG
Abstract
The Center for Health Design estimates that more than 30% of surgical site infections are caused by airborne pathogens. A device that creates a localized clean air field directly adjacent to and surrounding the incision site is meant to shield a surgical site from particulate in the operating room. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the routine use of this device would reduce the rate of infection following total hip arthroplasty (THA). The authors conducted a retrospective review of primary THA cases performed with and without the airflow device. Since July 2013, a total of 1093 primary THA cases were performed with the device at the authors' institution. The incidence of wound dehiscence and deep infection was compared with that of 1171 THA cases performed prior to July 2013 without the airflow device. There were no significant differences between the study groups regarding average patient age, sex, body mass index, or diagnosis. In the airflow group, there were 7 (0.64%) deep infections and 5 (0.46%) cases of wound dehiscence that required a return to the operating room for irrigation and wound revision. In the control group, there were 7 (0.60%) cases of deep infection and 4 (0.34%) wound revisions. The groups were not signifi...

Source: Orthopedics - August 2, 2020 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Routh LK, Parks NL, Gargiulo JM, Hamilton WG Tags: Orthopedics Source Type: research