Reduce Contamination Following a Hanging Leg Prep
Submitted by Brent Herrin, DVM | Herrin Animal Hospital, Cassville, Missouri
A method commonly performed with orthopedic surgery to reduce contamination is the application of vet wrap and sterile drape material; a preventative measure easily accomplished with minimal pre-planning.
FIGURE 1 | Autoclave vet wrap wrapped with a small piece of drape in a sterilization pouch
FIGURE 2 | Cover the distal extremity
FIGURE 3 | Cover the distal extremity
FIGURE 4 | Wrap it with the sterile vet wrap. Use vet wrap later to cover the end of a drill shroud around the chuck extension making it less likely to contaminate the surgical field.
Editor's Note: Larger practices often have sterile vet wrap and drape for distal extremities as part of a larger drape set. Dr. Herrin's alternative use of sterile vet wrap when preparing the drill and drill shroud combination is a technique less frequently used in referral practices.
Another consideration would be to utilize impervious drape material over the distal limb to avoid strike through.