In laminectomy positioning, where are the supports placed?

In laminectomy positioning, where are the supports placed?

• A. Under the knees
• B. Across the abdomen
• C. Longitudinally along the chest from axilla to hip
• D. Perpendicular to the spine

Answer: (C)

In this prone laminectomy setup, the aim is to support the torso along its length while keeping the abdomen free. Placing padding longitudinally along the chest from the axilla to the hip provides a broad, even contact surface that maintains spinal alignment and allows the abdomen to hang away from the table. This reduces intraabdominal pressure and venous engorgement, which helps improve venous return and decreases bleeding during posterior spinal surgery. Padding under the knees or across the abdomen would disrupt this goal—either altering leg alignment or compressing the abdomen and increasing intraabdominal pressure. A pad placed perpendicular to the spine wouldn’t offer stable, even support along the spinal axis, risking misalignment and pressure points.

In this prone laminectomy setup, the aim is to support the torso along its length while keeping the abdomen free. Placing padding longitudinally along the chest from the axilla to the hip provides a broad, even contact surface that maintains spinal alignment and allows the abdomen to hang away from the table. This reduces intraabdominal pressure and venous engorgement, which helps improve venous return and decreases bleeding during posterior spinal surgery. Padding under the knees or across the abdomen would disrupt this goal—either altering leg alignment or compressing the abdomen and increasing intraabdominal pressure. A pad placed perpendicular to the spine wouldn’t offer stable, even support along the spinal axis, risking misalignment and pressure points.