Prone position
1. Introduction
Advantage
- Good position for posterior access to the elbow region (eg, Y-fracture)
Disadvantages
- Use of image intensification is cumbersome
- Less suitable for children below 6-8 years due to short upper arm
- More demanding for anesthetist
- Increased risk of contamination of the hanging hand
This position is unsuitable for closed management of supracondylar fractures, as it is difficult to manipulate the fracture with the patient in a prone position.
2. Preoperative preparation
Consider the additional material on preoperative preparation.
3. Patient positioning
The patient is positioned prone with the elbow hanging over a radiolucent arm roll.
The elbow should be able to be flexed a little beyond the right angle.
