Why should hands be elevated above the elbows after scrubbing?

Elevating the hands above the elbows after scrubbing serves an important role in maintaining the sterility of the surgical field. When hands are positioned higher than the elbows, it helps prevent the water that may have been used during the scrubbing process from running down the arms and potentially contaminating areas that have already been sterilized. This is crucial because any contamination could lead to infection and compromise the surgical procedure.

Maintaining the sterility of scrubbed areas is essential to reducing the risk of post-operative infections. Therefore, the practice of keeping hands elevated is integral to the overall protocol of surgical scrubbing, ensuring that the sterile technique is upheld thoroughly throughout the entire surgical process.