Operating Room

Contents

• At the Time of the Operation
• Common Causes of Post-op Fever
• OR Note
• Post-OP Orders
• Pre-op Orders

The operating room is a significant component of any orthopaedic practice. The surgical team has a heavy commitment to the O.R. and daily routines are planned around the O.R. schedule. For this reason, the clerkship duties and routines in orthopaedic surgery are different from those of other specialties. Although students need not spend excessive time in the O.R., this experience is an essential part of the clerkship.

Emphasis on Sterility
Orthopaedic procedures involve the insertion of foreign material (implants, grafts, or hardware) into the operative site, therefore the prevention of infection is critical
In addition to proper scrubbing technique and operative room etiquette, always change contaminated (blood, plaster, etc.) hospital greens before entering the operating room or engaging in new patient contact (i.e. prior to morning rounds after a night on-call)