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Scalpel injuries in the operating theatre
- Mark D Stringer (20 May 2008)
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Mark D Stringer, Clinical anatomist University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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The operating theatre is not the only environment where there is a risk of injury from scalpel blades.1 Dissection of a human cadaver remains an integral part of learning anatomy for many medical and dental students. Among other benefits, this typically introduces the student to surgical instruments that need to be handled in a safe and co-ordinated manner. In a recent retrospective review of dissecting room injuries during the period 2001-2006 at the Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, injuries were found to be uncommon and minor (less than 4 injuries per 1000 hours of dissection).2 But, cuts from scalpel blades were the commonest type of injury, accounting for at least 38 (69%) recorded injuries. Nine of the scalpel blade cuts occurred whilst removing or mounting the scalpel blade. The risk of injury, adjusted according to exposure risk, was not associated with gender but may have been related to dissecting experience since third year medical students had a significantly lower overall rate of injury compared to second year medical students. This study has encouraged us to highlight the “culture of safety” advocated by Amber et al., particularly in relation to mounting and removing blades, passing instruments and disposing of sharps. Encouraging medical students to be more vigilant may offer yet another way of reducing these injuries. Mark D Stringer, clinical anatomist Competing interests: None References 1. Watt AM, Patkin M, Sinnott MJ, Black RJ, Maddern GJ. Scalpel injuries in the operating theatre. BMJ 2008;336:1031 (10 May) 2. Cornwall J, Stringer MD. Physical injuries in the dissecting room. Clin Anat 2008;21:82-85 Competing interests: None declared |
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