The Supine Position for Shoulder Arthroscopy

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair in Supine Position

Considering shoulder arthroscopy, lateral decubitus and beach chair are the 2 main employed positionings of the patient. Each include advantages and disadvantages. In our center, we perform all shoulder arthroscopy with the patient in supine position. The aim of this work is to present a stepwise approach of the accomplishment of a rotator cuff repair in supine position. Some specific technical notes are given to provide as much information as possible to help orthopaedic surgeons wishing to perform shoulder cuff repair in this position.

Modified Semilateral Decubitus Position for Shoulder Arthroscopy and Its Application for Open Surgery of the Shoulder (One Setting for All Shoulder Procedures)

Two standard patient positions for shoulder arthroscopy are the beach-chair and lateral decubitus positions. Both positions have advantages and disadvantages in many aspects. Surgeons choose the position based on their preferences, mainly the orientation of the anatomy. If an operation needs to be converted to an open procedure, a patient who is placed in the lateral decubitus position might need to undergo repositioning and re-draping, which result in extending the operative time and increasing the risk of infection. For this circumstance, the modified semilateral decubitus position offers the same advantages as the lateral decubitus position and can be adjusted to achieve a more upright position similar to the beach-chair position.