ADVANCED SPINE Will you benefit from a specialty spinal table?

If you're only looking to perform such basic spine procedures as lumbar decompressions and herniated discs, you can easily convert your standard surgical table into a spine table. A detachable fixture known as a Wilson frame that fits right on top of a standard OR table will maintain patients in a flexed position. Its 2 curved parallel pads situate the patient in a prone position, which holds the chest and pelvis in place over the table with adjustable, lateral support. The space between the curved pads leaves the patient's abdomen free to hang without pressure, one of the primary ways to minimize blood loss during spinal surgery. Meanwhile, another pad supports the patient's tibia(s), which keeps the lower spine flexed and ready for operation.

For more complex operations, however, open-frame Jackson tables offer advanced features for advanced procedures like spinal fusion or laminectomy. A typical Jackson model features an open, modular base with interchangeable top frames. Jackson tables are excellent resources for facilities that need specialized equipment for advanced spinal operations. Here are some of the features you should consider when evaluating a spine table:

Flexible positioning. With software-integrated technology, a typical, newer Jackson model can easily manipulate a patient's body into lateral, supine or prone positioning at the touch of a button. In addition, 360 ? rotational axis is ideal for maneuvering especially traumatized patients. Some newer models are hinged mid-table, allowing for ranges of ideal flexion and extension with total spine access across cervical, thoracic and lumbar procedures.

Imaging capabilities. Radiolucence indicates that a table is imaging compatible, especially with C-arm and O-arm technology. Detachable Wilson frames are typically compatible with fluoroscopy as long as the base table itself is, too. As for Jackson tables, these models are typically made from non-interfering material like carbon fiber and are fully compatible with imaging equipment. Their advanced positioning capabilities pair well with C-arm and O-arm procedures. Plus, they provide direct visualization of intra-operative changes in spinal alignment. Some models also include personal protective equipment for imaging procedures, such as specific helmet systems to protect the patient's head and eyes, making the table not just imaging-capable, but totally imaging safe. Interchangeable table tops allow imaging of patients in prone, supine and lateral positions, a feature that expands imaging capabilities. OSM

Allen Medical
Allen Advance Table
info.allenmedical.com/spine-table
(978) 266-4200
FYI: Repositioning a spine patient 180 ? supine-to-prone or 90 ? lateral-to-prone is a snap with this table. The accessory tops can be interchanged to meet more specific positioning needs. The fully radiolucent table affords superior intraoperative imaging capabilities and also provides extreme lateral patient flex for minimally invasive lateral spine surgical access, says the company. It has a 400-lb. weight capacity.

Getinge
Universal Frame
maquet.com/int/products/universal-frame
(800) 475-9040
FYI: The Getinge Universal Frame provides an ideal setup for spinal procedures as well as trauma procedures requiring 360 ? imaging, and the frame is made from entirely radiolucent materials. The Universal Frame can be attached to Getinge/Maquet surgical tables, supports prone, supine and lateral patient positioning, and offers stability with a low working height and a high patient-weight capacity of up to 550 lbs. Flexible positioning elements can be adjusted in 3 planes for precise positioning, and the size of the frame requires less-than-average storage space.

Mizuho OSI
ProAxis Spinal Surgery Table
mizuhosi.com
(800) 777-4674
FYI: With its mid-frame hinge, Mizuho's ProAxis model offers 2 positioning modes, fixed surgical site or fixed end, to allow for optimal patient positioning and surgical site control. The open frame can also be converted to an imaging top using the removable 2-piece, supine top with a built-in slide translation. You manipulate the table's positioning and operating functions with a handheld device called Intellipendant, which displays real-time information about the table's state and provides continual user feedback.

Schaerer Medical USA
Carbon Spine Frame
schaerermedicalusa.com
(800) 755-6381
FYI: Schaerer's Carbon Spine Frame converts the company's modular surgical table into a 4-post, open-frame positioner for prone spine procedures. Working in conjunction with the powered table, the frame provides intraoperative flex or reflex for complex positioning requirements, delivering the ability of a dedicated spine table with less of a demand for storage space. The cantilevered design allows for excellent C-arm imaging and unobscured anesthesia access. An optional radiolucent extension board provides 76 inches of imaging for supine and lateral positioning.