Is there any difference between shaving versus clipping versus depilatory gel of hair removal for skin preparation before surgery in respect of wound infection?

Abstract

Aim: Postoperative wound infection is still the most developing complication after surgery and globally responsible for almost %25 hospitalizations requiring complications after surgery. Several significant parameters to minimize Surgical Site Infection (SSI) evaluated and published in many articles, reviews, and guidelines. We aim to investigate the SSI outcomes of 3 different hair removal procedures before surgery, including skin preparation, in this original research article.Material and Method: 314 patients enrolled in this study were males aged 18 and 65, admitted to the outpatient clinic with unilateral inguinal hernia, and were eligible for Lichtenstein tension-free open hernia repair using mesh.Results: Wound infection has occurred in 6 patients from Group-1 (4.83%), 8 patients on Group-2 (7.92%), 4 patients on Group-3 (4.49%). There are no statistically significant between Group1 and Group-3 (p>0.05) when the wound infection rates of Group-2 statistically significantly higher than Group-1 and Group-3 (p<0.05). Conclusion:In the light of our study, we suggest either clipping on the table or usage of depilatory gels to maintain hair removal, including preoperative skin preparation.