Measurement of the concentration and size of aerosol particles and identification of the sources in orthopedic surgeries

Abstract

In this study, the measurement of the concentration and size of particles and the identification of their sources were carried out at five orthopedic surgeries. The aerosol concentration and particle size distribution, ranging from 0.3 μm–10 μm, were measured and related to the type of indoor activity. The handling of surgical linen and gowns, handling of the patient, use of electrosurgical apparatus, use of a bone saw, handling of equipment, and cleaning of the room were identified as the most important sources of particles, with each of these activities posing different risks to the health of the patients and workers. The results showed that most of the particles were above 0.5 μm and that there was a strong correlation among all particles of sizes above 1 μm. Particles with diameters in the range of 0.3 μm–0.5 μm had a good correlation only with particles in the ranges of 0.5 μm–1.0 μm and 1.0 μm–3.0 μm in three of the surgeries analyzed. Findings led to the conclusion that most of the events responsible for generating aerosol particles in an orthopedic surgery room are brief, intermittent, and highly variable, thus requiring the use of specific instrumentation for their continuous identification and characterization.

Acknowledgment

Authors Marcelo Luiz Pereira and Arlindo Tribess wish to acknowledge CNPq (Brazilian National Research Council) for the doctoral scholarship and research grant, respectively.

Marcelo Luiz Pereira, DSc, is Associate Professor. Rogério Vilain, DSc, is Associate Professor. Tomaz Puga Leivas, DSc, is Chief Engineer of the Biomechanics Laboratory. Arlindo Tribess, DSc, is Associate Professor.