Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Hip With the Times - July 2017 - Subscribe to Outpatient Surgery Magazine

Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.

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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.

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