What do systematic reviews say?

Depilatory cream vs no hair removal

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Depilatory cream vs no hair removal

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 267 participants
  Very low

Shaving vs clipping

Shaving probably leads to higher wound complications compared with clipping (moderate certainty).

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.74 [1.12, 2.71]
  3 studies · 1333 participants
  Moderate

Shaving vs clipping

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Shaving vs clipping

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Shaving vs cream

Shaving may leads to higher wound complications compared with cream (low certainty).

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 6.95 [3.45, 13.98]
  5 studies · 937 participants
  Low

Shaving vs cream

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Clipping vs no hair removal

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Shaving vs cream

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 402 participants
  Very low

Hair removal the day before surgery vs hair removal on the day of surgery

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Hair removal the day before surgery vs hair removal on the day of surgery

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Hair removal the day before surgery vs hair removal on the day of surgery

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Clipping vs no hair removal

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Clipping vs no hair removal

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Shaving vs no hair removal

Shaving showed no clear difference in wound complications compared with no hair removal (low certainty).

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1 [0.21, 4.66]
  1 study · 80 participants
  Low

Shaving vs no hair removal

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 136 participants
  Low

Shaving vs no hair removal

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 278 participants
  Very low

Surgery for Bell's palsy vs medical treatment (oral prednisolone) or no treatment

It is very uncertain whether surgery for Bell's palsy changes complete recovery of facial nerve function at 12 months Defined as:… compared with medical treatment (oral prednisolone) or no treatment (very low certainty).

• Surgical interventions for the early management of Bell's palsy 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.76
  2 studies · 57 participants
  Very low

Surgery for Bell's palsy vs medical treatment (oral prednisolone) or no treatment

It is very uncertain whether surgery for Bell's palsy changes side effects and complications of treatmentMeasured by clinical… compared with medical treatment (oral prednisolone) or no treatment (very low certainty).

• Surgical interventions for the early management of Bell's palsy 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 57 participants
  Very low

Early surgery vs late surgery

It is very uncertain whether early surgery changes complete recovery of facial nerve function at 12 months Defined as:… compared with late surgery (very low certainty).

• Surgical interventions for the early management of Bell's palsy 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.47 [0.03, 6.6]
  1 study · 26 participants
  Very low