OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the incidence of sterile surgical glove perforation during hospital-based surgical extractions of wisdom teeth performed with patients under general anesthesia. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 104 consecutive patients (420 gloves) were studied prospectively. A standardized water inflation technique was used. RESULTS: The operative perforation rate was 8.6%, or 4.3% per surgeon per operative side. The individual glove perforation rate was 2.1% per operation. Over 55% of perforations were not noticed at the time of surgery. There were no skin-penetrating injuries or visible contamination with body fluids. The perforation rate was the same with drill and chisel. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of glove perforation is lower than previously reported. The surgical extraction of wisdom teeth carries a relatively low yet still significant risk with regard to exposure to bloodborne cross-infection. We recommend that high-quality surgical gloves be used and that universal precautions be adhered to.
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the incidence of sterile surgical glove perforation during hospital-based surgical extractions of wisdom teeth performed with patients under general anesthesia. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 104 consecutive patients (420 gloves) were studied prospectively. A standardized water inflation technique was used. RESULTS: The operative perforation rate was 8.6%, or 4.3% per surgeon per operative side. The individual glove perforation rate was 2.1% per operation. Over 55% of perforations were not noticed at the time of surgery. There were no skin-penetrating injuries or visible contamination with body fluids. The perforation rate was the same with drill and chisel. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of glove perforation is lower than previously reported. The surgical extraction of wisdom teeth carries a relatively low yet still significant risk with regard to exposure to bloodborne cross-infection. We recommend that high-quality surgical gloves be used and that universal precautions be adhered to.