Ankle arthroscopy in the lateral decubitus position.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Procedures

Background:

• Ankle and subtalar arthroscopy are common orthopedic procedures.
• Often, arthroscopic surgery is followed by open lateral ankle or hindfoot surgery.
• Current standard positioning may necessitate intraoperative patient repositioning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a new positioning technique for ankle/subtalar arthroscopy and subsequent procedures.
• To improve operative efficiency by avoiding patient repositioning and redraping.
• To facilitate sequential anterior/medial arthroscopic and lateral/hindfoot open surgeries.

Main Methods:

• Development of a specialized patient positioning technique.
• Application of the technique for combined arthroscopic and open procedures.
• Evaluation of operative time and procedural efficiency.

Main Results:

• The novel technique allows for sequential arthroscopic and open procedures without repositioning.
• Potential for significant operative time savings.
• Streamlined surgical workflow for complex ankle and hindfoot cases.

Conclusions:

• The described positioning technique is effective for combined ankle/subtalar arthroscopy and open lateral/hindfoot surgery.
• This method enhances surgical efficiency and patient management.
• It offers a valuable alternative to standard positioning for complex foot and ankle procedures.