Which part of the surgical gown is considered sterile?

The front of the gown from the chest to the sterile field is considered sterile because this area is the part that comes into direct contact with the sterile environment and instruments during surgery. Sterile technique is critical in surgical settings to minimize the risk of infection and to maintain a clean surgical field.

In most surgical protocols, the parts of the gown that are designated as sterile extend from the chest to the waist, as this area is typically the closest to the surgical site and thus deemed to require sterility to protect the patient.

The areas not included in this sterile zone—such as the back of the gown and the sleeves from the cuff to the elbow—are generally not as critical for maintaining sterility in the surgical field. The back of the gown remains unsterile because it may come into contact with non-sterile surfaces, and certain areas of the sleeves can also be inadvertently contaminated during movement or while putting on the gown. Understanding this hierarchy of sterility is essential for any surgical assistant to ensure patient safety during surgical procedures.