Free draping a limb is a must when doing an orthopedic procedure or a soft tissue surgery on a limb. Free draping is not complicated but it does require the help of an assistant and a bit of forward thinking.
There are many different ways of doing same thing, so the technique I use can be modified to suit you needs. The key factors to adhere to are:
1) fully cover the patient and operating table;
2) ensure that the distal portion of the limb is completely and securely sterilely wrapped;
3) the sterile drapes previously positioned around the patient are also secure and do not become contaminated during the free draping process;
4) that the non-sterile assistant understands his/her role and is careful not to contaminate the surgeon or drapes.
