Surgical Positioning Flashcards
7 cards from real Certified Surgical Technologist practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Surgical Positioning flashcards as text
The Wilson frame is used primarily to support patients during which type of procedure?
Answer: Prone lumbar and thoracic spinal surgery
The Wilson frame supports the prone patient while flexing the lumbar spine to widen intervertebral spaces, improving surgical access during laminectomy and discectomy.
Which serious complication can result from prolonged prone positioning due to direct ocular pressure and reduced perfusion?
Answer: Postoperative visual loss (POVL)
Pressure on the globe combined with systemic hypotension can cause ischemic optic neuropathy, resulting in permanent postoperative visual loss.
The Mayfield skull clamp provides rigid head fixation most commonly used for:
Answer: Craniotomies in lateral, prone, or sitting positions
The Mayfield three-pin skull clamp attaches to the skull and table frame to prevent any head movement during craniotomies, regardless of the patient's body position.
Which respiratory complication is associated with the Trendelenburg position?
Answer: Decreased lung compliance and atelectasis from cephalad organ displacement
In Trendelenburg, abdominal viscera press cephalad against the diaphragm, reducing functional residual capacity and lung compliance, increasing atelectasis risk.
Failure to pad the ulnar nerve at the medial epicondyle can result in which postoperative deficit?
Answer: Ulnar neuropathy with ring and little finger numbness and weakness
The ulnar nerve is superficial at the medial epicondyle ('funny bone') and compresses easily against hard surfaces, causing sensory loss and intrinsic hand muscle weakness.
The sciatic nerve is most at risk for stretch injury in which position and circumstance?
Answer: Lithotomy with excessive hip flexion and external rotation
Excessive hip flexion combined with external rotation in the lithotomy position tensions the sciatic nerve, particularly at the sciatic notch where it exits the pelvis.
Which device is used to prevent a patient from sliding headward on the table during steep Trendelenburg positioning?
Answer: Padded shoulder braces or non-skid mattress pad
Padded shoulder braces or non-skid foam mattresses prevent cephalad sliding while distributing force broadly across the shoulder girdle to minimize brachial plexus injury risk.