@article {COOK501, author = {CHRISTOPHER R. COOK and TARA GASTON and BARRETT WOODS and FABIO OROZCO and ALVIN ONG and KRIS RADCLIFF}, title = {Operative Field Debris Often Rises to the Level of the Surgeon{\textquoteright}s Face Shield During Spine Surgery: Are Orthopedic Space Suits a Reasonable Solution?}, volume = {13}, number = {6}, pages = {501--506}, year = {2019}, doi = {10.14444/6067}, publisher = {International Journal of Spine Surgery}, abstract = {Background: The present study intended to identify debris in the spine surgical field that frequently rises to the level of the surgeon{\textquoteright}s face during several different elective spine procedures. Unlike other areas of orthopedic surgery where infection risk is of high concern, in spine surgery the surgical team usually uses a nonsterile face mask instead of a protective space suit with a sterile face shield. It is possible that blood or bone burr particles striking the surgeon{\textquoteright}s face mask represent a potential source of infection if they ricochet back into the operative field.Methods: We reviewed 46 consecutive, elective spine surgeries between May 2015 and August 2015 from a single-surgeon practice. For each surgery, every member of the surgical team wore sterile (space suit) personal protective equipment. After each procedure, the face shield was carefully inspected by 2 members of the surgical team to identify patient blood, tissue, or bone burr dust present on the face shield.Results: The rate of surgeon face shield debris inspected for each case overall was 38/46 (83\%). The rate of first assistant face shield debris inspected per case was 16/46 (35\%). The scrub technician had a 0\% rate of face mask debris on inspection. The highest debris exposure rates occurred with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions (100\%), open laminectomy and fusions (100\%), and anterior cervical discectomy and fusions 43/46 (93\%).Conclusions: There is a high rate of blood and tissue debris contact that occurs during spine surgery, and it is procedure dependent. Spine surgeons may consider using sterile shields particularly in high-risk cases to protect themselves and their patients.Level of Evidence: 4.}, issn = {2211-4599}, URL = {https://www.ijssurgery.com/content/13/6/501}, eprint = {https://www.ijssurgery.com/content/13/6/501.full.pdf}, journal = {International Journal of Spine Surgery} }