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Randomized controlled trial compares surgical site infection rates in 304 patients using clipper or surgical blade for hair removal, suggesting clipper may lower infection risk.
Objective: To compare the frequency of surgical site infection following operative fixation of close lower limb fractures using either clipper or surgical blade for hair removal. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Duration and Place of Study: This study was conducted from 1st April 2025 to 31st June 2025 at the Department of Orthopedics, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar. Methodology: A total of 304 adult patients undergoing internal fixation for closed lower limb fractures were randomly assigned into two equal groups of 152 each. Group I underwent preoperative hair removal with a battery powered clipper, while for Group II we used surgical blade. All participants received standardized perioperative care. Surgical site infection within four weeks of surgery was diagnosed clinically based on erythema, tenderness, and purulent discharge. Results: Surgical site infection occurred in 9 patients (5.9%) in the clipper group compared to 23 patients (15.1%) in the surgical blade group, demonstrating a statistically significant difference (p=0.009). Conclusion: Preoperative hair removal using a clipper significantly reduces the rate of surgical site infection compared with a surgical blade.
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Hassan et al. (2025) studied this question.
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