Animal caretakers working in NHP areas must wear facial PPE to protect themselves from the zoonotic hazards related to splash exposures, but PPE that is uncomfortable may present its own risks. The authors evaluated the level of protection offered by several types of facial PPE against a variety of simulated facial mucocutaneous exposures of the sort that could occur during typical procedures in Old World NHP facilities and determined that less restrictive PPE can be used without compromising safety.

A transverse plantar incisional approach was used on 35 patients who underwent heel spur surgery from 1982 through 1990. Ten bilateral procedures were performed on a total of 45 feet. A medial approach was used for five of the bilateral surgeries. The average age of the patient was 47 years, and the average follow-up period was 49 months. Of the 34 plantar approach cases in which complete data were obtained, 94% showed either good or excellent results. The authors illustrate a technique using a transverse plantar incision as an alternative to the medial approach for heel spur surgery.