The Drape Tower: A "Hands-Free" Draping Technique for Intraoperative Lateral Fluoroscopy Views

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Surgical Technology
• Infection Control

Background:

• Maintaining surgical field sterility is crucial in fracture surgery to prevent postoperative infections.
• Lateral fluoroscopic views are essential but pose contamination risks due to emitter rotation near the sterile field.
• Current methods require manual drape management, potentially diverting surgical team resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, hands-free draping technique for lateral fluoroscopy during orthopedic fracture surgery.
• To describe a method that maintains sterility without requiring additional personnel.
• To present a cost-effective solution using readily available materials.

Main Methods:

• A novel draping setup was developed for the fluoroscopic emitter.
• The technique allows for hands-free operation during emitter rotation from upright to lateral positions.
• The setup utilizes commonly available materials for ease of implementation.

Main Results:

• The described draping method effectively maintains fluoroscopic coverage in a hands-free manner.
• This technique successfully prevents contamination of the sterile field during lateral view acquisition.
• Surgeons can perform procedures without needing extra hands to manage the drape.

Conclusions:

• The novel hands-free draping technique enhances surgical field sterility during fracture surgery.
• This method improves efficiency by eliminating the need for manual drape adjustment.
• The technique offers a practical and accessible approach to infection prevention in orthopedic procedures.