TY  - BOOK
AU  - Lockey, Stephen
TI  - Wound care practices after orthopaedic trauma surgery are highly variable and not evidence based
SN  - 0020-1383
PY  - 2021///
KW  - *Orthopedic Procedures
KW  - *Orthopedics
KW  - Humans
KW  - Surgical Wound Infection/ep [Epidemiology]
KW  - Surgical Wound Infection/pc [Prevention & Control]
KW  - Sutures
KW  - Trauma Centers
KW  - MedStar Washington Hospital Center
KW  - Orthopaedic Surgery Residency
KW  - Journal Article
N2  - CONCLUSION: Wound care routines following surgical management of orthopaedic trauma injuries are highly variable. Diverse protocols are performed at the discretion of the treating surgeon without scientific basis. This study defines immense variability in one aspect of peri-operative care that could play an important role in surgical site infections and provides a foundation for future studies to explore the potential influence of standardized wound care routines on post-operative infections and wound healing. Copyright (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved; METHODS: A 16-question web-based survey was published on the Orthopaedic Trauma Association website and disseminated to members through the association's quarterly email. The survey gathered data on postoperative wound care practices; specifically, when wound checks are performed, and when providers allow patients to get the incisions wet; OBJECTIVE: Given the tremendous medical, social and financial costs of surgical site infections, the pressure to minimize these complications has been mounting. There remains a substantial gap in evidence-based practice for postoperative wound care after orthopaedic trauma surgery. The purpose of this study is to determine what standards are currently in practice for postoperative wound management; RESULTS: 102 Orthopaedic surgeons completed the survey. Ninety-one percent were trauma Fellowship trained, and 95% worked at either a Level I (76%) or Level II (19%) trauma center. There were over 100 different proposed protocols captured by the survey. The majority of surgeons (54%) perform a wound check within the first three days after surgery. Additionally, half of surgeons (50%) do not permit patients to get their incisions wet until sutures and staples are removed
UR  - https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2021.03.047
ER  -