egg crates, except to protect
patients' arms under certain spe-
cific circumstances — the con-
cern being that "where egg crates
are touching the body can cause
breakdowns in the skin and pres-
sure ulcers," says Ms. Digneo.
Skin in the game
Surgeons must take responsibility
to show their OR teams exactly how they like patients placed for each
procedure, but once surgery is underway, the entire surgical team needs
to constantly monitor the patient to ensure pressure points are free of
excessive forces that can cause skin injuries or nerve damage.
For example, during ACL repairs, the knee must be positioned in
such a way that surgeons have access to the lateral meniscus and the
medial meniscus, while obtaining enough flexion to place the drill at
the correct angle.
Positioning patients for shoulder procedures is also difficult,
because surgeons are working within tight spaces next to the patient's
head and airway. Obese patients can also be a challenge, because they
have more soft tissue, which makes it harder to optimize joint access
using positioning aids.
Ultimately, patient positioning can make or break any procedure.
Along with providing the right instruments and accessories, remind
your staff that focusing on proper patient positioning keeps patients
safe and gives surgeons room to maneuver for successful outcomes.
OSM
6 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J U L Y 2 0 1 7
• SOFT TOUCH Using gel pads to support a patient's heels
and ankles can prevent pressure ulcers on a vulnerable part of
the body.