Cranial surgery without head shaving.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Based on a series of 632 patients who underwent craniotomy without head shaving, we report the efficacy and safety of our simplified procedure and document the usefulness of the electrosurgical scalpel.

METHODS:

After brushing a chlorhexidine-alcohol solution onto the craniotomy site, the hair was parted from the incision line and fixed with adhesive paper drapes. In recent cases, electrosurgical scalpels were used for scalp- and subcutaneous dissection. At the end of surgery, the wound was closed in the usual manner, taking care that no hair was in the wound and the hair and wound were rinsed with clean water in the operating room. We did not apply disinfectant for postoperative wound care, rather, the hair was shampooed on the 2nd, 4th, and 6th postoperative day.

RESULTS:

Among 632 patients who underwent cranial surgery without head shaving, only 7 (1.1%) developed postoperative wound infections. None of the 34 patients who underwent craniotomy using the electrosurgical scalpel developed wound infections.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our simplified cranial surgery without head shaving does not increase the risk of wound infection. Because the use of the electrosurgical scalpel for skin and soft tissue dissection minimizes bleeding, the probability of wound infection appears to be reduced.

• Authors: Hiroshi Tokimura, Kenichiro Tajitsu, Masahiro Tsuchiya, Hitoshi Yamahata, Ayumi Taniguchi, Kenji Takayama, Masatomo Kaji, Masashi Hirabaru, Takahisa Hirayama, Tomomi Shinsato, Kazunori Arita
• Journal: Journal of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery : official publication of the European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery (J Craniomaxillofac Surg) Vol. 37 Issue 8 Pg. 477-80 (Dec 2009) ISSN: 1878-4119 [Electronic] Scotland
• PMID: 19604702 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Infective Agents, Local
• Hair Preparations
• Ethanol
• Chlorhexidine

Topics

• Aged
• Anti-Infective Agents, Local (therapeutic use)
• Chlorhexidine (therapeutic use)
• Craniotomy (methods)
• Electrosurgery
• Ethanol (therapeutic use)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Hair
• Hair Preparations
• Hair Removal
• Hematoma (surgery)
• Hematoma, Subdural (surgery)
• Humans
• Retrospective Studies
• Safety
• Skull Neoplasms (surgery)
• Surgical Tape
• Surgical Wound Infection (etiology)
• Suture Techniques
• Treatment Outcome