In hand draping, which item is used to cover the tourniquet?

In hand draping, which item is used to cover the tourniquet?

• A. Table drape - full or half sheet
• B. Surgical towels to cover tourniquet
• C. Tube stockinet (hand excluded from the sterile field)
• D. Body drape - full or 3/4 sheet

Answer: (B)

In hand draping, the goal is to create a sterile field around the operative hand while protecting nonsterile equipment like the tourniquet from contaminating that field. Covering the tourniquet with a sterile barrier—typically a surgical towel—provides a dedicated, easily placed barrier between the nonsterile tourniquet and the sterile area of the hand. This keeps the tourniquet separate from the sterile field without interfering with access to the hand or forearm. Other draping items serve broader or different purposes in the overall setup. A table drape is used to cover the operative table or extend the sterile field, not to specifically shield the tourniquet. A tube stockinet is used to protect the hand from the sterile field or to isolate the hand, which isn’t about covering the tourniquet itself. A body drape covers large areas and isn’t the targeted barrier needed to isolate the tourniquet from the sterile hand area. So, placing a sterile towel over the tourniquet provides the correct, localized barrier to maintain sterility around the operative hand during the procedure.

In hand draping, the goal is to create a sterile field around the operative hand while protecting nonsterile equipment like the tourniquet from contaminating that field. Covering the tourniquet with a sterile barrier—typically a surgical towel—provides a dedicated, easily placed barrier between the nonsterile tourniquet and the sterile area of the hand. This keeps the tourniquet separate from the sterile field without interfering with access to the hand or forearm.

Other draping items serve broader or different purposes in the overall setup. A table drape is used to cover the operative table or extend the sterile field, not to specifically shield the tourniquet. A tube stockinet is used to protect the hand from the sterile field or to isolate the hand, which isn’t about covering the tourniquet itself. A body drape covers large areas and isn’t the targeted barrier needed to isolate the tourniquet from the sterile hand area.

So, placing a sterile towel over the tourniquet provides the correct, localized barrier to maintain sterility around the operative hand during the procedure.