Keeping your Cool: simple reusable neck cooler for surgeons performing surgery

INTERVENTION: Intervention is a simple reusable neck cooler, to be worn by surgeons and surgical assistants . The neck cooler is applied prior to donning lead gowns in orthopaedic trauma surgery, and worn for the duration of the operation. Device used is Arctic Heat Neck Wrap, more information available here: http://www.arcticheat.com.au/product/neck‐wrap/ Neck coolers were kept in theatre refrigerators at four degrees Celsius for a minimum of four hours prior to use. After use they were rinsed in tap water, dried with paper towel, and placed back in the refrigerator. The researcher is present to ensure correct application of the neck cooler and provides the surgeon and surgical assistant a questionnaire to fill out at the end of the operation. CONDITION: Surgeon comfort Surgeon perspiration Surgical site infection PRIMARY OUTCOME: Surgeon/surgical assistant discomfort caused by atmosphere ‐ subjective. ; This was recorded using a questionnaire given to surgeon and surgical assistants by the researcher. This was designed specifically for this study. discomfort was reported on a 10 point Likert‐type scale where 0 is no subjective discomfort and 10 is unbearable subjective discomfort. Surgeon/surgical assistant Perspiration ‐ Subjective measure. ; This was recorded using a questionnaire given to surgeon and surgical assistants by the researcher. This was designed specifically for this study. Perspiration was reported on a 10 point Likert‐type scale where 0 is no subjective perspiration and 10 is unbearable subjective perspiration. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Surgeon/surgical assistant reported adverse events. ; A free text section in the questionnaire was available for concerns and adverse events. Participants were able to report any adverse effect e.g. headaches, loosening of neck cooler, burns. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Surgeons and surgical assistants at the study site who scrub into operations meeting the below clinical criteria: Orthopaedic pathology requiring Image Intensifier use in surgery.