Thinking of Buying... Spine Tables

Neurosurgery-Spine

By: Allison Thompson, RN, BSN

Published: 6/16/2021

Share:

Surfaces should match your facility’s clinical needs and budget.


Spine tables are highly configurable, versatile and functional, and key to achieving clinical success in a specialty known for complex cases. When evaluating the options for purchase, the top concern is finding the right fit for your facility in terms of safety, surgeon preference and intended use.

• Surgeon preferences. Our surgery center's lone spine surgeon requires prone positioning attachments to perform laminectomies, microdiscectomies, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions (TLIFs) and posterior lumbar interbody fusions (PLIFs). As a result, we needed both lower leg slings and flat pieces to interchange, dependent on the procedure. The abilities and preferences of our spine surgeon did not require us to focus on higher functionality, such as rotating the surface for anterior/posterior procedures. In our case, there was no need to spend on unnecessary bells and whistles. We just needed the table to be safe and functional.

Talk with your spine surgeons and decipher what they need versus what they want. If you work with multiple surgeons, collect their requirements and asks, and present the information to them as a group. This way, they'll all have the opportunity to provide feedback and work together to make the decision. Spine tables are big investments, so it should not fall on one person to ultimately decide which one to purchase.

• Cost considerations. Surgeon preferences will give you a much better idea of what you really need to spend. My goal was to explore available options to determine which ones were not overly expensive and aligned with the surgeon's needs best. Finding a cost-effective option was especially important because, as a brand-new facility, we were buying multiple pieces of equipment and instruments. Considering spine tables cost in the tens of thousands of dollars, we saved a significant amount of money by being disciplined and getting what we needed, while not spending money on features and attachments that are unnecessary for our facility and surgeon.

• Space considerations. Our purchase was also made with our facility's small footprint in mind. The center has only two ORs and limited space, so we do not have a lot of room to store table attachments that aren't used on a regular basis. Your facility may have ample storage, but it's worth keeping in mind that table attachments and accessories can take up valuable real estate.

• Seller relationship. A big decision surrounding whether to buy new or refurbished is your relationship with the seller. If you are in search of a brand-new table, the manufacturer may have better warranty packages and add-ons than a reseller can offer. You'll also be able to purchase a warranty and a comprehensive service agreement that helps to ensure the table will function properly and safely. For a relatively worry-free purchase, this might be the way to go. 

Not every facility can afford to purchase new, however. If you're considering a refurbished table, be sure to explore after-purchase warranty and service arrangements in order to make sure you understand the support you'll receive after the sale. Is the reseller willing to add on any kind of warranty? Will they help you maintain the table? What will they do for you if there are issues with it when it arrives at your facility? A medical engineer should also do a thorough check to ensure it's safe to use.

Making sure your surgeons are satisfied with the function and safety of a table compared to the cost is the ultimate goal. Your job as an administrator is to find the middle ground. We're very happy with our purchase, and it's because we did the necessary legwork and analysis beforehand to derive maximum value from what we spent. OSM

Hillrom

Allen Advance Table
hillrom.com
800-445-3730
Hillrom says this table’s “pin-less” design, featuring automatic locking wheel castors that help staff members maneuver the table around the OR, is a safer, cost-effective alternative for facilities upgrading from older tables. Designed to enable complex spine procedures, it can accommodate patients weighing up to 600 pounds. The vendor says the table’s 360 degrees of radiolucency make it easier to perform procedures requiring supine to prone positions, and also enables lateral to prone case flow. Another money-saving factor is the table’s backwards-compatible base, which enables facilities to use some older tabletops they already have.

Hillrom

Carbon Spine OR Tabletop
hillrom.com
800-445-3730
Hillrom’s TS7500 OR Table accommodates multiple specialties, and the Carbon Spine OR Tabletop turns it into a spine table. Its pads, components and accessories offer flexible and adjustable positioning for the various anatomies of spine patients. The vendor says the tabletop’s low height offers optimal surgical site access, while its lean, intuitive design makes patient transfer ergonomically friendly. Hillrom says the table is particularly optimal for intraoperative CT imaging and closed bore spine and cervical case work.

Mizuho OSI

Trios Surgical Table System
mizuhosi.com
800-777-4674
Thanks to its open frame, two-column design, the Trios System can interchangeably accommodate simple diagnostic procedures as well as more complex surgical cases. Offered with a choice of tabletops for spine, imaging and orthopedic procedures, its mounting interface keeps the surface locked in place. Its single push electronic floor locks and streamlined 180° patient rotation mechanism make Trios easy to set up and intuitive to use, which the vendor says minimizes the possibility of human error. The open spine frame reduces vena cava compression, minimizes epidural venous bleeding and improves visualization at the surgical site, while its carbon fiber construction enables complete radiolucency with unrestricted C-arm and O-arm access. Positioning and operating functions are controlled by an intelligent hand pendant, with two memory settings to retain the preferred position and assist with setup. An auxiliary panel provides a secondary source for controlling table motion. Tempur-Pedic Pad technology is incorporated into all patient surfaces in supine or prone positioning.

Mizuho OSI

ProAxis Spinal Surgery Table
mizuhosi.com
800-777-4674
ProAxis’ radiolucent hinge technology facilitates procedures requiring precise positioning of the spine in flexion, extension or both positions during surgery, making the table suitable for simple and complex spine cases as well as pain management procedures. The vendor says ProAxis is the only table on the market that allows surgeons to flex and extend the lumbar spine during surgery, which enhances visibility and access while aiding in achieving desired spinal alignment for restoring sagittal balance. It also provides for rotation of the patient’s pelvis while accounting for coordinated translation of the torso when flexing and extending the spine. The table can maintain the surgical site at a fixed height during hinge articulation. Its positioning and operating functions are controlled by an intelligent hand pendant that allows the surgical team to monitor and control the table’s exact position and functions. The table easily converts from an open frame to a radiolucent imaging top, allowing it to support a variety of spinal surgeries requiring prone, supine and lateral positioning.

Schaerer Medical USA

7300 Carbon Spine Frame Table
schaerermedicalusa.com
800-755-6381
The 7300 can be used for spinal cases requiring an open-frame, four-post table, as well as lateral spine cases, orthopedics and pain management cases — even general surgery. The table’s cantilevered design, which the vendor says is lower than competing tables, enables surgeons to sit while operating. For anesthesia providers, there’s no column at the head end of the table, enabling easier airway access and patient monitoring. The entire frame is radiolucent, and a motorized joint moves the tabletop to a flex or reflex position.

Related Articles