Caceres, Diana

BSN1 — N03
ASSIGNMENT#3
POSITIONING A CLIENT

1. What is an Orthopedic position?

- An Orthopedic position is vital to a safe and effective surgical procedure. These positions depend on the
surgery that will be performed, patients may be placed in different positions in order to assess the surgical
area properly.

2. What are the purposes of Orthopedic position?

- Maintain the patient’s airway and circulation throughout the surgical procedure
- Prevent nerve and nerve ending damages
- Allow surgeon easy accessibility to the surgical site as well as for anesthetic administration
- Provide comfort and safety to the patient
- Prevent soft tissue or musculoskeletal and other patient injury

3. Enumerate and describe the different Orthopedic positions

a. Fowler’s Position — “sitting position”, typically used for neurosurgery and shoulder surgeries.
b. High Fowler’s Position — the upper half of the patient’s body is between 60 degrees and 90 degrees in
relation to the lower half of their body, while the legs of the patient may be straight or bent.
c. Supine Position — “Dorsal Decubitus”, the most frequently used position for procedures. In this
reclining position, the patient is face-up, with the patient’s arms should be tucked at the patient’s sides
with a bedsheet, secured with arm guards to sled.
d. Jackknife Position — “Kraske”, is similar to Knee-Chest or Kneeling positions and is often used for
colorectal surgeries.
e. Kidney Position — resembles “lateral position”, except the patient’s abdomen is placed over a lift in
the operating table that bends the body to allow access to the retroperitoneal space
f. Prone Position — the patient is face-down with their head in a neutral position without excessive
flexion, extension or rotation
g. Lithotomy Position — the patient can be placed in either a boot-style leg holder or stirrup-style
position.
h. Sim’s Position — variation of the left lateral position, and the patient is usually awake and helps with
the positioning.
i. Lateral Position — this position may be used during back, colorectal, kidney, and hip surgeries, also
commonly used during thoracic and ENT surgeries, and neurosurgery.
j. Trendelenburg Position — typically used for lower abdominal, colorectal, gynecology, and
genitourinary surgeries, cardioversion, and central venous catheter placement. In this type of position, the
patient’s arms should be tucked at their sides, and the patient must be secured to avoid sliding on the
surgical table.
k. Reverse Trendelenburg Position — typically used for laparoscopic, gallbladder, stomach, prostrate,
gynecology, bariatric and head and neck surgeries. Risks to a patient in this type of position include deep
vein thrombosis, sliding and shearing, perineal nerve, and tibial nerve.