Surgical table attachment

Abstract

The present invention provides an armboard attachment for supporting a humerus of a patient placed on a surgical table. The armboard attachment comprises a humerus support board for horizontally and laterally positioning the humerus of a patient on an upper surface thereof. The humerus support board has a central cut-out at the outboard edge that is sized to receive the lower arm of a patient when the upper arm is supported on the board. The armboard attachment includes a pair of bars extending downward from the support board that are configured to be clamped to an accessory rail of a surgical table. The attachment also includes a reinforcing bar extending along each side of the support board to prevent bending or buckling of the armboard attachment when in use.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention generally relates to surgical attachments which are removably mounted to a main surgical table. Particularly, the present invention relates to surgical attachments for supporting and positioning a patient's humerus during radiographic and surgical procedures. [0002] Humeral fractures are among the most common traumatic injuries that a primary clinician will see in the office or emergency room. The fractures are usually the result of a fall on the upper limb, or high-energy trauma as may occur in industrial or motor vehicle accidents or with gunshot injury. Most humeral fractures can be treated non-operatively. However, there are some situations in which surgical intervention is recommended. These include open fractures, fractures associated with vascular injuries, and multiple fractures of the same limb. These types of fractures are frequently the result of high-energy traumas. [0003] When performing surgical procedures on fra...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] The surgical table attachment is removably attached to the surgical table on a side proximate the end of the table where a patient's head is placed. When the patient is positioned in the prone position, the attachment is positioned so that the upper surface of the humerus support board is parallel and generally on the same plane as the upper surface of the surgical table. This allows the upper arm of the patient to be extended horizontally and laterally from the body of the patient in order to allow the surgeon and assistants easier access.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the dimension of the humerus support board from inboard edge to outboard edge is approximately seven inches. This dimension allows the humeral portion of the patient's arm to be placed on the upper surface of the humerus support board while the lower portion of the patients arm, from the elbow down, extends beyond the outboard edge of the support board. This allows the lower portion of the arm to be draped over the outboard edge to hang downward comfortably at approximately a 90 degree angle relative to the upper arm.

[0017] In another embodiment of the present invention, the outboard edge includes a concave cut-out. The concave cut-out is in the horizontal plane of the humerus support board, extending toward the inboard edge. When the humeral portion of the patient's arm is placed on the upper surface of the humerus support board, the concave cut-out facilitates the bending of the elbow downward and comfortably allows the positioning of the lower arm at a downward angle relative to the upper arm.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the invention, the surgical table attachment is radiolucent. When used in conjunction with a radiolucent surgical table, it allows metal free imaging at all angles necessary to properly diagnose and treat a humeral fracture.

[0020] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a novel, efficient, and economical apparatus for supporting the humerus of a patient positioned in the on a surgical table. It is a further object of the invention to provide an armboard for supporting the humerus of a patient that allows the patient to be safely and comfortably positioned in the prone position for radiographic and surgical access to the patient's upper arm.

[0021] It is yet another object to provide an armboard that overcomes the problems associated with prior armboards. For instance, by providing an armboard that supports the upper arm while allowing letting the forearm swing free alleviates the pressure on the ulnar nerve that can lead to neurological damage. These and other objects and benefits of the invention will be readily discerned from the following written description, taken together with the accompanying figures.

Problems solved by technology

These types of fractures are frequently the result of high-energy traumas.

However, there are a number of disadvantages in placing the patient in the lateral decubitus position for radiographic and surgical access to the patient's humerus.

The use of operating room personnel to support a patient during a surgical procedure is unsatisfactory in that the assistant supporting the extremity may tire and find it necessary to change position at some critical or otherwise inconvenient time.

Another disadvantage in the use of the lateral decubitus position for access to the humerus lies in cases of multiple fractures to the same extremity.

However, this can pose an increased risk of complications to the patient.

These complications can include additional fractures and neurological damage to the affected areas during movement.

The increase in duration of the procedure translates to increased operating room costs as well as increased time the patient spends under the general anesthesia.

Although the support leg helps to provide a stable platform for the surgeon, it also limits radiographic access to the patients arm and represents an unnecessary obstacle or hazard to the surgeon and associated surgical staff during performance of surgery.

Also, tables of this type tend to be rather bulky and ungainly during setup and removal, further lessening their desirability.

These armboards allow limited radiographic access to the arm at certain angles.

However, these armboards tend to be rather flimsy and unstable during use due to the lack of a solid support system, and have a tendency to wobble on the rail due, in part, to the manner in which they are attached to the main table.

In addition to the inherent limitations of the prior armboards described above, these armboards are typically designed for use with a patient placed in the supine position on a surgical table and are generally unsatisfactory for use with a patient in the prone position.

This position can put high pressure on the ulnar nerve of the elbow resulting in neurological injury.

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