A Comparison of Aerosol Particulate Production Between Hydrosurgery, Pressurized Pulsatile, and Bulb Syringe Lavage During Irrigation of Fracture Implants

INTRODUCTION: Surgical site infection can occur after internal fixation of both open and closed fractures following internal fixation. Common methods of infection management include operative debridement and wound irrigation with a bulb syringe, or pressurized pulsatile lavage. The Versajet hydrosurgery tool appears to be an effective tool for debridement. Arecent study found that the Versajet tool was statistically superior at eradicating bacteria from orthopaedic fracture plates compared to bulb syringe or pressurized pulsatile lavage, but there was anecdotal evidence of aerosolized particles produced by the Versajet during plate irrigation. It was thought that these aerosolized particles may represent a potential occupational hazard to patients and operating room staff. This investigation seeks to quantify the amount and size distribution of aerosol particles created by bulb syringe, pressurized pulsatile and Versajet Hydrosurgery lavage.