Introduction: Any increase in perforations in surgical gloves is a concern. We conducted a prospective study to find a clinically acceptable brand of latex-free gloves suitable for orthopaedic surgery.
Method: Five different brands of gloves approved for use were selected. Two of the latex-free gloves were rejected as their clinical usability in arthroplasty was poor. The Cardinal Esteem latex-free glove has a smooth surface and was slippery, especially in total knee arthroplasty. The Biogel Skin Sense under glove was found to be unacceptably thick, affecting both surgical dexterity and tactility.
Results: The three remaining gloves were Biogel latex (control), Synthesis Polyco (latex-free) and Cardinal Esteem SMT (latex-free). Gloves were then collected for testing from 241 arthroplasties. Gloves used for primary knee/hip replacements were tested using a validated water distension test. Latex-free gloves were found to have higher perforation rates compared to latex.
Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that currently available latex-free gloves have inferior clinical performance and are not recommended for use in arthroplasty surgery.