Surgical table and accessories to facilitate hip arthroscopy

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein concern a distraction system for use with a surgical table having a table portion and a base portion. The distraction system includes a pair of arms rotatably connectable to the base portion at a proximal end portion of each arm. A pair of telescopically adjustable support posts extend upwardly from corresponding arms, Each arm rotates about a vertically oriented axis to provide for hip adduction and abduction of a patient's leg. Each support post extends from a linear bearing attached to the corresponding one of the pair of arms for movement along the arm to facilitate applying traction to a patient's leg. The system can also include a table extension attachable to the table portion and a friction pad mounted on the table extension.

1 .- 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method for stabilizing a patient on a patient support, the method comprising:
 positioning a friction-increasing pad on a surface of the patient support;   positioning the patient at least partially on the friction-increasing pad; and   applying a distraction force to a leg of the patient without the use of a perineal post;   wherein the distraction force is great enough to distract the hip joint, and further wherein the friction-increasing pad provides sufficient resistance to sliding to keep the patient from sliding on the patient support while the distraction force is being applied.   
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 27  further comprising tilting the patient support cephalid-side down so that the patient is inclined at an angle of 2-20 degrees from the horizontal, and further wherein the friction-increasing pad in combination with the effect of gravity on the inclined patient provides sufficient resistance to sliding to keep the patient from sliding in a caudal direction during distraction. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the friction-increasing pad is disposed under at least one of the lower back and the buttocks of the patient. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the friction-increasing pad is disposed under at least a portion of the torso of the patient. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the friction-increasing pad comprises a foam pad. 
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the friction-increasing pad has a coefficient of friction greater than or equal to 0.52 as measured between human skin and the surface of the friction-increasing pad. 
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the friction-increasing pad has a coefficient of friction of between 0.3293 and 2.42 as measured between human skin and the surface of the friction-increasing pad. 
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein the patient support comprises a surgical table and a table extension removably attached to the surgical table, and further wherein at least a portion of the friction-increasing pad is positioned on at least a portion of the table extension. 
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 34  wherein at least a portion of the table extension is radiolucent. 
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 28  further comprising:
 after applying a distraction force to a leg of the patient without the use of a perineal post, performing a procedure on the patient. 
 
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 28  further comprising:
 tilting the patient support toward a lateral side of the patient at an angle of between 0.5-2 degrees from horizontal. 
 
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 37  wherein the friction-increasing pad provides resistance to sliding during lateral tilting. 
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 37  wherein the friction-increasing pad provides sufficient resistance to sliding to keep the patient from moving laterally during lateral tilting. 
     
     
         40 . A system comprising:
 a patient support;   a friction-increasing pad disposed at least partially on a surface of the patient support; and   a leg distraction unit associated with the patient support for applying a distraction force to a leg of a patient while the patient is positioned at least partially on the friction-increasing pad;   wherein the distraction force is great enough to distract a hip joint of the patient, and further wherein the friction-increasing pad provides sufficient resistance to sliding to keep the patient from sliding on the patient support while the distraction force is being applied without the use of a perineal post.   
     
     
         41 . A system according to  claim 40  wherein the patient support is capable of tilting cephalid-side down at an angle of 2-20 degrees from the horizontal, and further wherein the friction-increasing pad in combination with the effect of gravity provides sufficient resistance to sliding to keep the patient from sliding in a caudal direction during distraction. 
     
     
         42 . A system according to  claim 41  wherein the friction-increasing pad is disposed so as to reside under at least one of the lower back and the buttocks of the patient. 
     
     
         43 . A system according to  claim 41  wherein the friction-increasing pad is disposed so as to reside under at least a portion of the torso of the patient. 
     
     
         44 . A system according to  claim 41  wherein the friction-increasing pad comprises a foam pad. 
     
     
         45 . A system according to  claim 41  wherein the friction-increasing pad has a coefficient of friction greater than or equal to 0.52 as measured between human skin and the surface of the friction-increasing pad. 
     
     
         46 . A system according to  claim 41  wherein the friction-increasing pad has a coefficient of friction of between 0.3293 and 2.42 as measured between human skin and the surface of the friction-increasing pad. 
     
     
         47 . A system according to  claim 40  wherein the patient support comprises a surgical table and a table extension removably attached to the surgical table, and further wherein at least a portion of the friction-increasing pad is positioned on at least a portion of the table extension. 
     
     
         48 . A system according to  claim 47  wherein at least a portion of the table extension is radiolucent. 
     
     
         49 . A system according to  claim 41  wherein the patient support is capable of tilting toward a lateral side of the patient at an angle of between 0.5-2 degrees from horizontal. 
     
     
         50 . A system according to  claim 49  wherein the friction-increasing pad provides resistance to sliding during lateral tilting. 
     
     
         51 . A system according to  claim 49  wherein the friction-increasing pad provides sufficient resistance to sliding to keep the patient from moving laterally during lateral tilting.