Reducing Scalpel Injuries in the Operating Room

Standard precautions, training and awareness for those at risk, the use of neutral passing zones, and safety-engineered devices have helped decrease the incidence of injury for specific categories of sharps. One new safety device is a hand piece that uses electrosurgical plasma induced with pulsed radio-frequency energy to cut tissue. AORN J 90 (December 2009) 867-872. © AORN, Inc, 2009.