A Low-Cost Alternative Technique for Eye Protection During Prone Positioning in Spinal Surgery.

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Neurosurgery
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Prone positioning during spinal surgery presents risks, notably postoperative visual loss (POVL).
• Preventing POVL necessitates strong collaboration between anesthesiologists and spinal surgeons.
• POVL is a serious, though rare, complication associated with prone spinal anesthesia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a cost-effective method for preventing POVL during prone spinal surgery.
• To detail a practical approach for intraoperative eye monitoring in patients undergoing prone spinal surgery.
• To offer an alternative to expensive commercial headrests for eye protection.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an affordable telescopic inspection mirror combined with standard eye padding and tape.
• Implemented a system for regular intraoperative eye assessment without disrupting surgical workflow.
• Focused on proper patient positioning and consistent eye protection during prone spinal surgery.

Main Results:

• The developed method is a cost-effective and practical alternative to commercial headrests.
• Effectively maintained patient eye protection and allowed for consistent assessment during surgery.
• Demonstrated feasibility in reducing POVL risk in the described patient population.

Conclusions:

• The described method offers a viable, low-cost solution for mitigating POVL risk.
• Emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary coordination between surgical and anesthesia teams.
• Highlights the value of continuous monitoring of eye position during prone spinal anesthesia.