A Simplified Technique for Patient Positioning During Olecranon Fracture Fixation

We describe an easy and quick surgical setup requiring only 2 total knee arthroplasty foot positioners (commonly known as “paint rollers”) attached to a surgical table with the patient in a supine position. A retrospective review of 28 patients undergoing operative fixation of olecranon fractures utilizing this positioning method was performed. No patients were found to require repositioning (ie, supine to lateral) for any reason and no airway-related or positioning-related complications were noted. This setup provides excellent exposure to the operative site and stable positioning of the arm with minimal risk to the patient. In keeping the patient supine, monitored anesthesia care (intravenous general anesthesia) with regional blockade may be performed without the need for endotracheal or laryngeal mask anesthesia, thereby lowering anesthesia-related risks.
Source: Techniques in Shoulder and Elbow Surgery - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: Techniques Source Type: research