Do Skin Lacerations Imply Tissue Transfer From Surgeon to Patient During Arthroscopic Knot Tying?

Purpose: To use simulated arthroscopic knot tying to assess (1) whether epithelial cells from the surgeon's hands were transmitted to the suture and (2) whether the number of knots tied or the presence of glove tears would correlate with the number of cells transmitted.

Methods: Knots were tied in a simulated arthroscopic environment using a nonabsorbable No. 2 suture over a metal hook.