A removable orthopedic protective sleeve adapted to be applied over the male Morse taper of modular orthopedic implants thereby preventing contamination of the taper contact surface from blood body fluid or tissue particles responsible for electrochemical corrosion and fretting at the level of Morse taper. Said sleeve having a conical tube shape and a rim at is upper narrow end. A plurality of vertical grooves situated on the outer surface of the protective sleeve will split open as the female Morse taper is slidingly flushed downward and seated over the male taper. The split sleeve is then removed after the male and female tapers are assembled in situ.