This position is useful for plating and nailing the distal femur, plate fixation of the proximal tibia, and fixation of the patella.
This procedure is performed with the patient under general or regional anesthesia.
If a spinal anesthetic is used, the surgeon and anesthetist need to be confident that the procedure will not last more than 1.5 hours.
Antibiotics are administered according to local antibiotic policy and specific patient requirements.
Maintain light manual traction (the assistant may need to stand on a stool) on the limb during preparation to avoid excessive deformity at the fracture site.
Disinfect the whole leg from the hip including the foot with the appropriate antiseptic.
The surgeon and ORP stand on the side of the affected limb. The assistant stands next to the surgeon.
Place the image intensifier on the opposite side of the injury and the display screen in full view of the surgical team and the radiographer.
These positions are reversed for the medial approach.