Lavage of open fractures is crucial and proven to reduce the risk of secondary infection. Irrigation leads to spillage of fluid, which soaks surgical drapes, increasing the chances of wound contamination. Gowns worn by the surgical and nursing staff get wet, increasing exposure of potentially contaminated body fluids from the patient. We report the use of a tray, at the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital. The limb is placed on the tray, excess irrigant drains through the holes and collects in the underlying compartment and can be discarded via a sucker. In our experience, this reduces the spillage of excess irrigant. This tray was manufactured locally, at the hospital workshop, and has been in use for over 30 years (unfortunately not available commercially). We suggest this tray provides a useful adjunct to reducing spillage of lavage fluid.
Figure 1.
Tray for collection of lavage fluid