Who Needs the Surgical Headlight?

Abstract

The LightMat provides excellent surgical light for cleft palate surgery and pharyngeal procedures. It affords the surgeon several advantages: it provides a cool operative light, flexibility in surgical position, and improved visibility and mobility; the surgeon avoids the delay in obtaining an appropriate working headlight; and, more importantly, it may prevent postural problems that could lead to spinal sprain and disability.

The use of an illuminated retractor in cochlear implantation: a comparative retrospective study

“…Several suggestions have been made as to what constitutes an ideal surgical light. 11 , 12 Two criteria are that light must penetrate into the surgical cavity or under the flap and it should not hinder the surgeon’s mobility. Therefore, several surgical instruments have been modified to ensure adequate lighting during surgery.…”

Safety, Performance, and Satisfaction Outcomes in the Operating Room: A Literature Review

“…Surgical lighting is especially critical for surgeries involving deep cavities. A few studies dealt with the ergonomics of surgical lighting fixtures (Okoro, Patel, & Wang, 2007; Patkin, 2003). Hard-to-move lighting booms, small light handles, loose and strolling booms, and shadow casting are some of the issues that the surgical team experienced while adjusting the lighting over the surgical table.…”

Optimizing the operating theatre environment

“…Use of a headlight has advantages of flexibility, control by the surgeon, and vision into deep and narrow spaces 1 . Disadvantages of using a headlight include an awkward posture (resulting in neck strain) and limitation of the mobility and visibility of the operating team 7 . Flexible fibre‐optic lights attached to retracting instruments can be used to overcome some of these drawbacks.…”

“…1 Disadvantages of using a headlight include an awkward posture (resulting in neck strain) and limitation of the mobility and visibility of the operating team. 7 Flexible fibre-optic lights attached to retracting instruments can be used to overcome some of these drawbacks. The light is stronger and better focused when fibre-optic light is used in laparoscopic, endoscopic and arthroscopic work.…”