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S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | A U G U S T 2 0 1 4
tions.
Concerns about patient safety
have led to a significant number of
recent advances. Manufacturers,
working with providers, have pin-
pointed deficiencies in older hard-
ware and made welcome changes
that help reduce infections and
other negative outcomes.
The essentials
You don't need a lot of attachments to be able to handle just about any body
part. A few basics will let you perform a diverse set of services:
• Knee and limb positioners.
A few companies now offer an important innova-
tion: Single-use padded and sterile devices that attach to the table after the
patient is draped for the procedure. The positioner attaches to a metal base
plate and applies traction through the lower extremity, holding the knee in a
flexed position at about 45 degrees. That allows improved exposure at the joint
level and applies a consistent level of distraction that no one trying to hold the
leg in that position would be able to maintain for very long.
Additionally, instead of locking the extremity into one set position for the
entire procedure, which makes initial positioning even more critical, the new
devices let you change positions during procedures without compromising
sterility. Newer attachments are also ideal for rotator cuffs and wrists because
they let you reposition the limb by stepping on a foot pedal, instead of having a
staff member hold it throughout the surgery.
We're also seeing movement away from pressurized lines that plug into wall
sockets and run across the floor, adding to the potential tripping hazards that
already exist in ORs. Some positioners come with rechargeable batteries and
don't require an OR setting for air pressure. That also decreases the chance of
T A B L E S & A T T A C H M E N T S
FASTER
TURNAROUND
Newer
tables are
designed to be easier
to clean, saving time
and decreasing the
likelihood of infection.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
