What is the Jackson Table System for Spine Surgeries
Jackson table is a specially designed table to be used in spine surgeries. It can be used to perform a perform a variety of spinal surgeries in supine, prone, lateral positions in a safe manner.
Two of the peculiar features of Jackson table are
- No central table support
- Ability to rotate the table through 180 degrees
To better understand these points let us first have a look at the OT tables commonly used in surgical theaters. These are called float top tables and are tables with central base support on which table rests.
Here is an image of one of these tables.
We see that a substantial part of the mid-table region is occupied by the supporting base. This limits the use of C-arm image intensifier in that area. While the use of float top table with central base allows good visualization of extremities, upper and lower spine, it does not allow visualization of spine falling in the base region.
Even for the upper and lower spine, the movement of C-arm image intensifier involves a lot of maneuvering due to space constraint.
Enter Jackson table. A table which is supported only at both ends keeping the whole of the table free. This allows the visualization ability of trunk and major part of extremities as well.
The movement of C-arm is easy as there is lot of space to adjust C-arm.
Another point is patient rotation.nt Rotation
Without Jackson table making the patient prone for surgery is a major challenge.
This is done manually turning the patient from supine on a patient cart to a prone position on a surgical table while maintaining the alignment to the best possible way. But there is no rigid control and there could be a relative motion at the injury site.
However, with Jackson table system the patient is slid from the cart onto the table in the supine position with appropriate padding placed. The patient is then strapped securely on the table.
The carbon fiber table frame is placed over the patient, and the patient-table construct is sandwiched together with this frame. The frame is locked. Now both frame and the table hold the patient rigidly.
A mechanical turn is given by unlocking and rotating the unit 180 degrees. This brings the carbon fiber frame lowermost with prone patient above it followed by the previous table part which was under the patient on the top.
The top part is removed and the patient prepared for surgery in the prone position.
After the surgery has been completed, the top which was removed is applied again and locked.
Now the turn in reverse is given so that the top part is under the patient with the patient supine on it and the carbon frame is topmost.
The carbon frame is removed and we have a supine patient on the table which could easily be shifted to the cart later.
Thus, the Jackson table enables the spine surgeon to place the patient in the supine position and then flip the patient on the table to make him/her prone. This protects the patient from any neurological damage by keeping the spine stable during the turn.
Not only this, the Jackson table for prone positioning allows the abdomen to hang entirely free of any pressure.
This is very beneficial during surgery as it reduces blood loss and pressure related issues, especially in patients with a large belly.
The rotational feature of the table allows the surgeon to carry spinal fusions without the need for patient repositioning. When anterior fusion is complete, patient can be rotated 180 degrees for surgical access to the posterior spine.
