How do you clean hair under a wound?

• The influence of preoperative shaving v clipping on wound infection rate was studied in 1,013 patients undergoing elective operations at a single hospital. Patients were prospectively randomized to be either shaved or clipped the night before or the morning of operation. The AM clipper method was associated with significantly fewer infections than were the other methods, both at discharge and at 30-day follow-up. The greatest benefit was in the group with clean wounds. For each 1,000 patients treated, a savings of approximately $270,000 could be realized If the AM clipper method replaced shaving for preoperative hair removal. Preoperative shaving is deleterious, and the practice should be abandoned.

(Arch Surg 1983;118:347-352)

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March 21, 2015

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in Australia, AU

Hi Just noticed 2 strands of hair are in wound. I am not near the doctor, but have emailed him for advice. What should I do? Cut the hair at the root, try and pull out the strands, wait to go I go to Australia and get my doctor to look at it. The op was 3 weeks ago and ditches removed 2 weeks ago. Wounds have healed very nicely and happy with the results. Any advice would be appreciated Thanks

Clinical Trial

The influence of hair-removal methods on wound infections

J W Alexander et al. Arch Surg. 1983 Mar.

Abstract

The influence of preoperative shaving v clipping on wound infection rate was studied in 1,013 patients undergoing elective operations at a single hospital. Patients were prospectively randomized to be either shaved or clipped the night before or the morning of operation. The AM clipper method was associated with significantly fewer infections than were the other methods, both at discharge and at 30-day follow-up. The greatest benefit was in the group with clean wounds. For each 1,000 patients treated, a savings of approximately $270,000 could be realized if the AM clipper method replaced shaving for preoperative hair removal. Preoperative shaving is deleterious, and the practice should be abandoned.

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