Effect of an Adjustable Hinged Carbon Fiber Operating Table on Sagittal Alignment of the Lumbar Spine

This is a prospective study that has been done to assess the lumbar sagittal alignment of patients positioned prone over an adjustable hinged carbon fiber operating table. The following three variations of table position have been considered: neutral, 20 degrees convex, and 20 degrees concave bending. A total of 33 patients who underwent lumbar disc herniation and lumbar canal stenosis surgery were enrolled. Patients who presented with spinal deformity akin to lumbar scoliosis or spondylolisthesis were excluded. For the surgical procedure, following the induction of endotracheal general anesthesia, patients were positioned prone on the adjustable hinged carbon fiber operating table. Radiographs of the lateral view of the lumbar spine were acquired for the three table positions, i.e., neutral, 20 degrees convex, and 20 degrees concave. The lumbar lordosis was measured on radiographs. The lumbar lordosis presented divergently in all three variations of the table (p < 0.01): 45.2 +/- 11.0 degrees in neutral; 52.0 +/- 10.7 degrees in 20 degrees lumbar extension bending; and 35.9 +/- 10.8 degrees in 20 degrees lumbar flexion bending. The efficacy of table bending was 46.5% in convex and 34.0% in concave bending. In conclusion, the lumbar lordosis in three different table positions were 35.9 degrees in 20 degrees convex bending, 45.2 degrees in neutral, and 52.0 degrees in concave bending. The efficacy of table bending was 46.5% in convex and 34.0% in concave bending.