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pine surgery patients who aren't properly positioned,
padded or monitored are vulnerable to any number of
complications, including pressure sores, nerve injuries
and even vision loss. Overlook one detail and you may
end up with devastating, potentially life-changing events.
The most common complication following lumbar spine surgery per-
formed on patients in prone and knee-chest positions? Vision loss,
researchers found (osmag.net/sDt7GN). It's a potentially catastrophic
turn of events for providers, too. A disc surgery patient who lost his
vision after spending nearly 9 hours in the prone position and under
general anesthesia won a $22 million malpractice suit
(osmag.net/aHkQR3). How to prevent vision loss?
Use the reverse Trendelenburg to get the head above the level of the
Jim Burger | Contributing Editor
Keys to Safe Spine Surgery Positioning
The keys to injury prevention — neutral positioning and proactive padding.
• LATERAL PASS A patient positioned laterally before spine surgery.
