Vacuum-stiffened beanbag for cranial remodeling procedures in modified prone position

Abstract

In surgical correction of multiple-suture synostosis, placing the patient in the modified prone position permits access to the calvarium from the supraorbital ridge to the occipital bone below the transverse sinus. The modified prone position thereby enables surgeons to perform cranial remodeling procedures at one stage under direct vision, contributing to improved surgical results. However, no satisfactory head-frame for this position has been available. The authors report the successful use of a vinyl bag filled with styrofoam beads to achieve the modified prone position in young children. This widely available, economical device provides a safe, reliable means of positioning the child's head for cranial remodeling procedures.

Anaesthetic care during minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures in infants and children

“…A prone position with neck extension is used to facilitate surgical exposure (sometimes referred to as a `sealion' or `sphinx' position) (49). Figure 3 demonstrates the `sphinx' position with the use an inflatable bean bag to hold the patient's head in a fixed position (50). Additional anaesthetic concerns include airway control, potential for blood loss and venous air embolism (Table 1).…”