The right evidence-based products can make a world of difference when it comes to keeping patients safe, secure and well-protected.
Devices and aids play an outsized role in the patient positioning and pressure injury prevention process for OR teams everywhere. There is no shortage of products available to pad and protect patients when they are at their most vulnerable during surgical procedures.
To find the right safety-supporting products for your facility’s specific needs, focus on these critical areas.
The evidence. You want to do your due diligence in terms of a positioner’s safety, efficacy and incidences of injury. Start your search by focusing only on options with evidence-based data to back safety claims. Reach out to perspective vendors and ask them to send any evidence-based data that supports their products’ safety and efficacy claims.
The materials. Protecting at-risk anatomy is a critical component of any positioning aid and material matters here. Certain devices distribute pressure and hold their shape and density much better than others. For instance, viscoelastic gel pads and positioners can be more effective than foam-based products that don’t have any pressure redistribution properties and tend to compress quickly under patients’ body weight.
The impact. Single-use or reusable? That ubiquitous question isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Today, facility leaders everywhere are fully aware of the staggering amount of waste generated by surgical procedures and want to be good environmental citizens. However, the job requires those same leaders to balance good intentions with the realities of running a surgery center. Reusable requires an honest assessment of whether your team has the time and resources necessary to handle and care for the products carefully enough to ensure a shelf life that’s worth the investment.
Here are some options on the market for patient positioning aids:
Surgeon-Designed Safety
![Innomed-Das-Anterior-Hip-Bolster-Assembly](https://www.aorn.org/images/outpatientsurgerymagazinelibraries/productnews/2024/july24-innomed-das-anterior-hip-bolster-assembly.jpg?sfvrsn=ba3dee4d_1)
Innomed’s latest orthopedic surgery positioners and instruments include two new products designed by orthopedic surgeons:
- Das Anterior Hip Bolster Assembly: Designed to help provide counter resistance on the contralateral hip when reaming and implant insertion during direct anterior arthroplasty.
- Alvi Small Charnley Style Locking Frame Set: A self-retaining frame and retractor system designed for use during anterior total hip arthroplasty; blades help retract the hip capsule and musculature, permitting an unobstructed view of the acetabulum. Tapered, flanged blade for gentler soft tissue retraction.
For more information, call (800) 548-2362, or visit www.innomed.net
Decreased Injuries, Increased Comfort
![Aspen-Surgical-Strako-Knee-Positioning-Pad](https://www.aorn.org/images/outpatientsurgerymagazinelibraries/productnews/2024/july24-aspen-surgical-strako-knee-positioning-pad.jpg?sfvrsn=b8813d1a_1)
The newest addition to Aspen’s portfolio of orthopedic positioning products, the Strako™ Knee Positioning Pad is designed to help decrease pressure-related injuries and provide increased patient comfort with its soft, high-density memory foam. This pad is for use with the Stryker® Mako® Leg Positioner.
For more information or to place an order please contact (888) 364-7004 or your local sales rep. Visit www.aspensurgical.com
Stop Pressure Ulcers Cold
![Ansell-ProForm-Positioners](https://www.aorn.org/images/outpatientsurgerymagazinelibraries/productnews/2024/july24-ansell-proform-positioners.jpg?sfvrsn=8f3f66e2_1)
Achieve optimal patient positioning while reducing the risk of pressure ulcers and nerve damage with disposable ProForm Patient Positioners from Ansell SANDEL. Their anatomical shape helps redistribute weight appropriately and deliver maximum comfort. Select models are made of memory foam, which are soft to the touch and deliver improved pressure relief. Choose from a variety of designs, including multiple types of head positioners, arm cradles, body wedge, heel protectors and ulnar nerve protectors. They are colored bright orange for noticeability in the OR.
For more information or samples, call (866) 764-3327 or visit www.ansell.com/proform
Positioned with Precision
![IMP-De-Mayo-Adapt2Fit-Knee-Positioner](https://www.aorn.org/images/outpatientsurgerymagazinelibraries/productnews/2024/july24-imp-de-mayo-adapt2fit-knee-positioner.jpg?sfvrsn=8921c03d_1)
The De Mayo Adapt2Fit modular knee positioner from IMP Medical is designed to keep up with an ever-evolving surgical environment. The company says the new Adapt2Fit gives providers the precise patient positioning they need, improving on the original De Mayo knee positioner by adapting to fit in a single sterilization case, fit standard cleaning vessels, and fit smaller autoclaves.
For more information, call (860) 773-4344 or visit www.impmedical.com
Optimizing Safety in the OR
![Mizuho-Pressure-Injury-Abatement-horiz](https://www.aorn.org/images/outpatientsurgerymagazinelibraries/productnews/2024/july24-mizuho-pressure-injury-abatement-horiz.jpg?sfvrsn=b7dcef67_1)
Mizuho OSI’s products aim to support, position and protect patients with a total system of care to improve OR outcomes:
- Tempur-Pedic pressure equalization pads for positioning applications, general surgical tables and Mizuho OSI tables
- GentleTouch prone positioning pillows
- Hana Distraction Pads
- ProneView Protective Helmet System
- Orange Aid gel pads and positioners
- Avra and Aquari ROI calculators
For more information, visit www.mizuhosi.com OSM