Review of Pre-Operative Skin Preparation Options Based on Surgical Site in Orthopedic Surgery

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a primary contributor to surgical morbidity and mortality, causing a substantial financial burden on the healthcare system. Specifically, Cutibacterium acnes contributes greatly to infections in the shoulder and spine regions. Prevention of infection is crucial to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. This article reviews current surgical skin preparation solutions, the unique distribution of organisms at common orthopedic surgical sites, and recommends solutions based on surgical location. Methods: A search of electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase) was conducted for relevant literature until December 2020. Sources were compiled based on title and abstract, then full texts were read for possible inclusion. This review summarizes the most recent publications in the field of SSIs and preparation solutions. Results: The mechanism and efficacy of alcohol-, iodine-, and chlorhexidine-based preparations were reviewed, along with experimental preparations. This article identifies common colonization patterns for the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, spine, foot, and ankle, and discusses recommendations for preparations based on current evidence. Recommendations: For shoulder and elbow operations, we recommend ChloraPrep™ (CareFusion, BD, El Paso, TX), DuraPrep™ (3M Health Care, St. Paul, MN), or Betadine® applied with 4 × 4 gauze sponge, three-day pre-operative benzyl peroxide, and application of 3% hydrogen peroxide before skin preparation. For the hip and knee, we recommend application of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) cloth the night before and morning of surgery and either DuraPrep or iodine-alcohol skin prep prior to surgery. For spine surgeries, we recommended ChloraPrep. For foot and ankle, our recommendations are: ChloraPrep or DuraPrep, submersion of foot in 70% ethanol/10% isopropyl alcohol for five minutes prior to procedure, application with a bristled brush, and a second vigorous scrub with 4 × 4 soaked gauze. Conclusions: The current surgical skin preparations have both benefits and drawbacks. We recommend that orthopedic surgeons choose a skin preparation based on surgical site and prevalence of unique skin flora there.