2022 COA Annual Meeting : Do adhesive drapes have an effect on infection rates in orthopaedic surgery? A systematic review and meta-analysis

5 randomized controlled trials (n=226) were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the use of adhesive drapes to control in orthopaedic surgery. The main objectives of this meta-analysis was to determine whether the use of adhesive drapes will decrease the risk of wound contamination; whether intraoperative drape peeling increases the risk of wound contamination; and if the use of an adhesive drape will decrease the risk of infection at the surgical site. Five eligible RCTs (n=2266) were identified for analysis. The results of this meta-analysis found that adhesive drapes are effective in decreasing the risk of contamination. The available evidence on the effect of drape peeling on wound contamination and the effect of adhesive drape usage on surgical site infection was inconclusive and/or limited.