A Low‐Cost Alternative Technique for Eye Protection During Prone Positioning in Spinal Surgery

TL;DR

This paper introduces a low-cost method to protect patients' eyes during spinal surgery in the prone position, reducing the risk of vision loss.

Contribution

The novel contribution is a cost-effective eye protection technique using a telescopic mirror and padding during prone spinal surgery.

Findings

A telescopic inspection mirror and padding provided effective eye protection during prone positioning.

The method is affordable and does not disrupt surgical workflow.

The approach reduces the risk of postoperative visual loss in spinal surgery patients.

Abstract

Although rare, anaesthetising patinets in prone position for spinal surgery carries a risk of serious complications. Among these, postoperative visual loss (POVL) is of significant concern. Preventing POVL requires close collaboration between spinal surgeons and anaesthetists.

In our centre, we practiced a cost‐effective method to ensure proper patient positioning, eye protection, and consistent assessment of eye position during prone spinal surgery. An affordable telescopic inspection mirror was used in conjunction with standard protective eye padding secured with sleek tape. This approach facilitated regular intraoperative eye checks without disrupting the surgical workflow.

The proposed approach offers an affordable and practical alternative to expensive commercial headrest options while maintaining effectiveness in reducing the risk of POVL.

The method provides a viable, low‐cost solution for mitigating POVL risk in prone‐anaesthetised spinal surgery patients, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary coordination and continuous monitoring.

Figures