Innovating Pelvic Fracture Surgery: Development and Evaluation of a New Surgical Table for Enhanced C-Arm Imaging and Operational Efficiency.

Abstract

Background: Pelvic fractures require precise reduction and stabilization, necessitating high-quality C-arm imaging and accurate patient positioning. Standard operating tables often obstruct optimal C-arm maneuverability. To address this, we developed a new auxiliary surgical table that integrates with existing tables and evaluated its clinical utility compared to a specialized carbon surgical table. Methods: Between March 2018 and June 2023, we conducted a retrospective study involving 162 patients (97 men and 65 women; average age 45.7 years) who underwent percutaneous sacroiliac screw fixation for pelvic fractures. Ninety patients were treated using the newly developed table, and seventy-two patients were treated using the carbon table. The new table, measuring 200 cm in length, 50 cm in width, and 2 cm in thickness, was constructed from waterproof plywood and designed to be securely attached to existing operating tables. We compared surgical preparation times, economic costs, and intraoperative imaging feasibility between the two groups. Results: Use of the new table significantly reduced the surgical preparation time by an average of 21 min and saved approximately $43,000 in cost compared to the carbon table. Subjective assessments indicated no notable difference in intraoperative C-arm image quality between the two groups. The new table allowed free C-arm rotation by overcoming the mechanical limitations of conventional tables. Conclusions: The new auxiliary table demonstrated clinical feasibility and economic advantages without compromising intraoperative imaging quality, offering a practical and cost-effective alternative for pelvic fracture surgeries.