Most patients go to sleep before this part. But this is where surgical safety is built — before a single incision is ever made. Here's exactly what happens in our OR between patient positioning and first cut — and why every single step matters more than most people realize: Skin prep — antiseptic solution eliminates bacteria at the surgical site before any instrument makes contact. 🧤 Sterile stockinette — applied to the limb to completely isolate the operative field. Everything outside it is non-sterile. No exceptions. 🩺 Final draping — sterile drapes create the surgical field barrier. Only the operative site is exposed. Everything else is protected.  Equipment connections — camera, shaver, light source, and data storage unit are each connected and verified in sequence. Camera cord in. Shaver connected. Light source confirmed. No assumptions. 💧 Water check — "Water's going." Arthroscopic irrigation flow is confirmed before we enter the joint. Without continuous saline flow, vi...