DOS 2017

182

· DOS Abstracts

Time spent on alcohol rub prior to surgery – Does

time feel faster with increasing age?

Jakob Klit, Per Hviid Gundtoft, Eske Brand, Peter Toft Tengberg, Kristoffer

Weisskirchner Barfod

OMG - Orthopedic Myth Grinders

Background:

Guidelines recommend pre-wash followed by antisepsis using al-

cohol rub for 120 sec. Senior surgeons seem to possess the ability to perform a

full surgical hand antisepsis in no time while younger surgeons are left scrubbing

and rubbing for infinity. Possibly due to a changed perception of time as mental

timing of 120 sec is reduced by 28.3 sec in persons over 50 years compared to

under 30 years.

Purpose / Aim of Study:

To investigate if time spent on surgical hand anti-

sepsis declines with age, and whether this can be explained by senior surgeons’

perception of time.

Materials and Methods:

The study was performed as a cross sectional study

at three orthopedic departments in Denmark. First, 32 orthopedists at different

age were secretly timed during alcohol rub prior to surgery. Secondly, the indi-

vidual perception of 120 seconds was examined on 64 orthopedists. Attitude

towards surgical hand antisepsis was surveyed with a questionnaire send to all

orthopedists at the departments.

Findings / Results:

Orthopedists under 50 years of age used significantly lon-

ger time (mean 112 vs 74) on alcohol rub (p=0.034). No significant difference

in perception of time (mean 135 vs 123) between orthopedists over and un-

der 50 years (p = 0.102) was found. Nor was there any significant difference

between age groups or rank when asked if they performed hand disinfection

according to guidelines.

Conclusions:

Orthopedists are not affected by mental aging as is the case in

the normal population. Furthermore, orthopedics seem to be able to accelerate

time when in the operating theater, a capability that is increasingly acquired with

age. Orthopedists are aware of standard guidelines and convinced they follow

them. This study presents new observations adding to the mythic nature of the

orthopedic surgeon. Further studies are needed to understand the depth of the

mystery.

No conflicts of interest reported

134.