Effect of craniotomy without shaving on patient mood

TAŞKAPILIOĞLU M. Ö., OCAK P., ZOR TUNALI N., KORFALI E., BEKAR A.

JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES, vol.30, no.2, pp.385-391, 2013 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus, TRDizin) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 30 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2013
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.385-391
  • Bursa Uludag University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Background: Shaving before cranial surgery has been a common practice for many decades. Most of the studies were about the infection rates, but there is a few data about the effect of shaving on patient mood. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of not shaving when performing a craniotomy on the mood of the patients. Methods: Patients who underwent a craniotomy between September 2010 and September 2011 and agreed to complete a questionnaire after the surgery were included in the study. Results: 207 patients included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 44.51 +/- 18.00 years. 114 patients (55.07%) did not think about shaving when they first learned they would undergo a craniotomy; 133 (64.2%) did not ask their surgeons about being shaved during the craniotomy. 30 patients (14.4%) pointed out that not being shaved was an important factor in choosing the surgeon. Nineteen (9.1%) patients complained about the wide scar tissue and alopecia. Conclusion: Not shaving is a strong factor that affects the time necessary to get back to one's routine and orientation to social life after craniotomy without increasing infection rates. However, it is not a factor that affects the patient's choice of doctors.