Method and apparatus for supporting and stabilizing a patient during hip distraction
A method for positioning a patient on a surgical table for a surgical procedure on a hip of the patient includes removably mounting a table extender to the surgical table in an operating room by releasably attaching mounts of the table extender to side rails of the surgical table, wherein the mounts are configured to mount the table extender in only one orientation with respect to the surgical table; and positioning the patient on the surgical table such that shoulders of the patient are supported by the surgical table and hips of the patient are supported by the table extender, wherein the table extender has a rectangular shape so that the hips of the patient are positioned entirely on the table extender.
1 . A method for positioning a patient on a surgical table for a surgical procedure on a hip of the patient comprising:
removably mounting a table extender to the surgical table in an operating room by releasably clamping mounts of the table extender directly to side rails of the surgical table, wherein the side rails of the surgical table are attached to a main body of the surgical table via standoffs such that the side rails are spaced from adjacent side walls of the main body of the surgical table, and wherein the mounts are configured to mount the table extender in only one orientation with respect to the surgical table; and
positioning the patient on the surgical table such that shoulders of the patient are supported by the surgical table and hips of the patient are supported by the table extender, wherein the table extender has a rectangular shape so that the hips of the patient are positioned entirely on the table extender.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the table extender supports the patient from a point proximal to the hips.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the table extender supports the patient to a point proximal to the knees.
4 . The method of claim 1 , comprising imaging at least one of the hips supported on the table extender using X-ray and/or CT imaging.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the table extender comprises a base attached to the mounts, wherein the base is radiolucent such that the at least one of the hips is imaged without obstruction.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein there is no metal reinforcement extending across a width of the table extender or past the mounts in a length direction of the table extender so that that the at least one the hips is imaged without obstruction.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the patient on the surgical table such that the hips of the patient are supported by the table extender comprises placing a stabilizing pad between at least a portion of the patient and at least a portion the surgical table to reduce sliding of the patient relative to the surgical table.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the stabilizing pad extends between the hips of the patient and the table extender.
9 . The method of claim 6 , comprising positioning the surgical table and table extender in a non-inclined position.
10 . The method of claim 9 , comprising tilting the surgical table and table extender so that the patient in a Trendelenburg position.
11 . The method of claim 10 , comprising tilting the surgical table and table extender to an angle indicated by an inclinometer of the table extender.
12 . The method of claim 7 , comprising securing the stabilizing pad to the side rails of the surgical table with straps of the stabilizing pad.
13 . The method of claim 1 , comprising applying a hip distraction force to the hip of the patient.
14 . The method of claim 13 , comprising applying the hip distraction force to the hip of the patient without using a perineal post.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the only one orientation of the table extender is an orientation in which a top surface of the table extender is aligned with a top surface of the surgical table.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the table extender comprises a rectangular base and a rectangular cushion attached to the rectangular base.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the base comprises one or more openings for optional mounting of a perineal post and the cushion comprises at least one recess for accommodating the optional mounting of the perineal post.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the table extender supports the hips so as to mitigate pelvic tilt.
19 . The method of claim 7 , comprising applying a distraction force to a leg of the patient that distracts a hip joint of the patient, wherein the distraction force is opposed by the stabilizing pad.
20 . The method of claim 7 , comprising positioning the patient in the Trendelenburg position, wherein the patient remains in place in the Trendelenburg position by the stabilizing pad.
21 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the stabilizing pad extends under the hips and head of the patient.
22 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the stabilizing pad extends from under the hips to the mid-back region of the patient.
23 . The method of claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the stabilizing pad is flexible so as to allow the patient to sink into the stabilizing pad.
24 . The method of claim 7 , comprising securing the stabilizing pad to at least one of the surgical table and the table extender by one or more hook and loop fasteners of the stabilizing pad.
25 . The method of claim 7 , comprising repositioning the patient on the stabilizing pad using at least one handle of the stabilizing pad to move the stabilizing pad.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the stabilizing pad comprises one or more straps disposed between the one or more handles of the stabilizing pad that support a weight of the patient.
27 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the stabilizing pad comprises a sheet within the stabilizing pad that supports a weight of the patient.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the sheet is interposed between foam layers of the stabilizing pad.
29 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the stabilizing pad comprises at least one indication that indicates a preferred location for positioning the hips of the patient on the stabilizing pad.
30 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the stabilizing pad comprises one or more raised portions that prevents the patient from sliding.
31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the one or more raised portions comprises a raised distal portion that resists distal movement of the patient.
32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the one or more raised portions comprises one or more raised lateral portions that resist lateral movement of the patient.
33 . The method of claim 1 , wherein removably mounting the table extender to the side rail comprises sliding the mounts along end portions of the side rails.
34 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the mounts that clamps to the side rails extends beyond an edge of the main body when mounted.
35 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the mounts extend laterally along end portions of the side rails when mounted.