Is your surgery staff vulnerable to scalpel-blade injuries such as these three real-life scenarios?
- As a surgery attendant passed a scalpel to a surgeon, the surgeon simultaneously reached for it. They bumped hands, and the attendant's left index finger was cut.
- After a cosmetic procedure, a nurse used a hemostat to remove the blade from a reusable scalpel handle. The blade slipped and the nurse cut her middle right finger.
- Having completed a hand case, a physician and nurse were cleaning the patient. As the nurse reached back for a towel, she was cut by a scalpel held by the OR technician.
