Do your surgical glove characteristics and wearing habits affect your tactile sensibility?

Philipp Moog, Manuela Schulz, Julia Betzl, Daniel Schmauss, Jörn A Lohmeyer, Hans-Günther Machens, Kai Megerle, Holger C Erne, Philipp Moog, Manuela Schulz, Julia Betzl, Daniel Schmauss, Jörn A Lohmeyer, Hans-Günther Machens, Kai Megerle, Holger C Erne

Abstract

Backround: Tactile sensibility plays a critical role in medicine, especially in surgical practice. In order to prevent surgical site infections and protect the surgeon, the use of surgical gloves is standard practice. However, wearing these might affect the sensibility of the hand disadvantageously, especially in disciplines that require precision work.

Methods: We evaluated the influence of six different glove types, as well as gloves wearing habits (double gloving, over- and undersized gloves) on tactile sensibility using two-point-discrimination and Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing in 27 non-surgeons.

Results: There were significant differences regarding tactile sensibility of gloved compared to bare hands and between different types of gloves. While undersized gloves and double gloving did not affect tactile sensibility, oversized gloves were associated with a significant deterioration of the sensibility of the hand in the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that surgical gloves negatively affect the sensibility of the hand and show significant differences between different types of gloves.

Keywords: Semmes-Weinstein-test; Sensibility of the hand; Surgical gloves; Two-point discrimination.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

© 2020 The Authors.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The mean static two-point discrimination (2PD) values and Semmes-Weinstein test values of the index finger in dependence of the glove type and without gloves. (A) Two-point discrimination (mm), (1,2,3,4,5,6,7 = p < 0.05); (B) Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (g) (1,2,3,4,5 = p < 0.05). Asterisks (*) indicate the significant differences to bared hands.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effect of double gloving on sensitivity. (A) Two-point discrimination (mm) (B) Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (g). Asterisks (*) indicate the significant differences to bared hands.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Effect of oversized gloves on tactile sensibility. (A) Two-point discrimination (mm) (B) Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (g); (* = p < 0.05). Asterisks (*) indicate the significant differences to bared hands.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Effect of undersized gloves on tactile sensibility, regarding two-point discrimination and Semmes-Weinstein test. (A) Two-point discrimination (mm) (B) Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (g). Asterisks (*) indicate the significant differences to bared hands.

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Source: PubMed

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