✂️ Hair Removal in Neurosurgery [Neurosurgery Wiki]

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====== ✂️ Hair Removal in Neurosurgery ======

[[Hair]] [[removal]] is often part of the [[preoperative]] [[preparation]] in [[neurosurgical procedures]], but its use should be **judicious**, aiming to reduce **surgical site infections (SSI)** and maintain **patient comfort and dignity**.

===== 🎯 Goals =====
  * Improve access and visibility of the surgical field
  * Facilitate adhesion of surgical drapes
  * Prevent infection by avoiding microtrauma
  * Preserve cosmetic outcomes

===== 🧠 General Principles =====
  * **Avoid complete head shaving** whenever possible.
  * Limit hair removal to the **smallest area necessary**.
  * Prefer **clippers** over razors to reduce microabrasions.
  * Perform hair removal **as close as possible to surgery time** (preferiblemente <2 h).

===== 🛠️ Recommended Technique =====
  - Use **electric clippers** with disposable heads.
  - Remove only the hair directly over the incision site.
  - Avoid shaving the entire head unless:
    - Required for exposure (e.g., bicoronal, occipital approaches)
    - Patient specifically consents to it
  - Clean area after clipping and proceed with antisepsis.

===== 🧴 Antisepsis Compatibility =====
Hair remnants can interfere with antiseptic efficacy and sterile drape adhesion. Ensure:
  * All loose hair is cleaned off.
  * Skin is visibly clean before antiseptic is applied.

===== ⚠️ Contraindications =====
  * Avoid razors—linked to higher SSI risk.
  * Do not delay surgery to perform hair removal.

===== 👩‍⚕️ Patient Communication =====
  * Explain to the patient that **minimal hair removal** is standard.
  * Reassure regarding **postoperative cosmetic appearance**.
  * Document consent if full shaving is planned.