Effect of needle size and type, reuse of needles, insertion speed, and removal of hair on contamination of joints with tissue debris and hair after arthrocentesis.
Abstract: To assess joint contamination with tissue and hair after arthrocentesis of equine fetlock joints. Methods: Experimental. Methods: Limb specimens from 8 equine cadavers. Methods: Soft tissues including the joint capsule were harvested from the dorsal aspect of the fetlock joints and mounted on a wooden frame. Needles inserted through the joint tissue preparation were flushed into tissue culture plates that were examined for tissue and hair debris. Variables evaluated were gauge and type of needle (16, 18, 20, and 22 G sharp disposable needles and 20 G disposable spinal needles with stylet), number of times each needle was used (1, 2, 3, 4), length of hair (unclipped, clipped, shaved with razor), and needle insertion speed (fast, slow). Descriptive and statistical evaluations were performed. Results: Tissue contamination was identified in 1145 of 1260 wells and hair contamination was identified in 384 of 1260 wells. Twenty gauge needles inserted through unclipped hair resulted in the least amount of hair contamination. Compared with 20 G needles with fast insertion 1 time through unclipped hair the odds ratios for contamination with hair were significantly greater for 16 G sharp disposable needles, 20 G spinal needles, clipped hair, shaved hair, and reuse of the needles. Spinal needles inserted through unclipped hair transferred many long hairs into the joint space. Conclusions: Reuse of needles for arthrocentesis should be avoided. Removal of hair is not indicated for arthrocentesis with sharp injection needles but is recommended when using spinal needles with stylets. Conclusions: Joint contamination with hair and tissue debris will be decreased by specific needle insertion techniques. Decreased contamination of joints may reduce the frequency of joint infections after arthrocentesis.
Publication Date: 2010-03-19 PubMed ID: 20345539DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2010.00649.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research study evaluates how factors such as needle size and type, reuse of needles, insertion speed, and hair removal affect the contamination of horse fetlock joints with tissue and hair following arthrocentesis.
Research Methodology
- Limb specimens from eight horse cadavers were used for the experiment. The joint capsule and other soft tissues from the dorsal aspect of the fetlock joints were harvested and mounted on a wooden frame.
- Different types of needles (16, 18, 20, and 22 G sharp disposable needles and 20 G disposable spinal needles with stylet) were inserted through the joint tissue preparation and the resultant fluid was collected in tissue culture plates.
- The experiment varied the number of times each needle was used (1, 2, 3, 4), the length of hair (unclipped, clipped, shaved with razor), and the needle’s insertion speed (fast, slow).
- Tissue and hair debris in the collected fluid were subsequently examined, and descriptive and statistical evaluations performed.
Findings
- Out of 1260 wells, tissue contamination was found in 1145 wells, and hair contamination was identified in 384 wells.
- Twenty gauge needles inserted through unclipped hair resulted in the least amount of hair contamination.
- Compared to a single fast insertion of a 20G needle through unclipped hair, the odds for hair contamination were significantly greater for 16G sharp disposable needles, 20G spinal needles, with both clipped and shaved hair, and reusing needles.
- Spinal needles inserted through unclipped hair transferred many long hairs into the joint space.
Conclusions
- Reusing needles for arthrocentesis should be avoided to minimize joint contamination.
- Removing hair is not necessary when using sharp injection needles, but is recommended when using spinal needles with stylets.
- Suitable needle insertion techniques can help reduce joint contamination with hair and tissue debris.
- By reducing joint contamination, the frequency of joint infections after arthrocentesis could potentially be reduced.
Cite This Article
APA
Adams SB, Moore GE, Elrashidy M, Mohamed A, Snyder PW.
(2010).
Effect of needle size and type, reuse of needles, insertion speed, and removal of hair on contamination of joints with tissue debris and hair after arthrocentesis.
Vet Surg, 39(6), 667-673.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950X.2010.00649.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Asepsis / instrumentation
- Asepsis / methods
- Cadaver
- Debridement / instrumentation
- Debridement / methods
- Debridement / veterinary
- Hair
- Horses / surgery
- Joints / surgery
- Needles / veterinary
- Paracentesis / instrumentation
- Paracentesis / methods
- Paracentesis / veterinary
- Punctures / instrumentation
- Punctures / methods
- Punctures / veterinary
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