Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42591511›Full record

ArticleAnnals of joint2026

A surgical technique for tape-free lateral decubitus positioning in lateral lumbar interbody fusion using a novel mechanical patient positioner.

Mitchell K Ng, Paul Mastrokostas, Mohamed Said, Rajendra Singh, Rohan Rajan, Ezekiel Kopilak, Ahmed K Emara, Afshin E Razi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of joint, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Mitchell K NgRothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5831-055X
Paul MastrokostasRothman Orthopaedic Institute, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Mohamed SaidDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Rajendra SinghDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Rohan RajanDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Ezekiel KopilakDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Ahmed K EmaraDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Afshin E RaziDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Reliable lateral decubitus positioning is critical for safe and effective lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF); however, traditional patient stabilization with adhesive taping can be time-consuming, inconsistent, and associated with skin shear or breakdown, particularly in high body mass index (BMI) or elderly patients. In this technical report, we describe the use of a mechanical patient positioning system as a tape-free method of stabilization designed to provide counter-pressure at the iliac crest, thoracic cage, and/or greater trochanter while allowing for fine adjustments in alignment. The system is mounted directly to the operating table and uses adjustable support arms with anatomically contoured pads to improve control of pelvic tilt, trunk rotation, and coronal balance during positioning Conceptually, this approach enables controlled, reproducible support at fixed bony landmarks and may facilitate positioning optimization during fluoroscopic imaging. Compared with traditional taping techniques, this system is intended to reduce reliance on variable manually applied tension and instead provide adjustable mechanical support. Potential advantages include improved positioning consistency, decreased dependence on skin-based traction, and the ability to make intraoperative adjustments after draping. In addition, the technique may streamline operating room (OR) workflow by reducing repeated repositioning maneuvers and minimizing setup variability between surgical teams. The ability to fine-tune patient alignment after preparation may be particularly useful in multilevel LLIF procedures and in patients with increased soft-tissue mobility. This report aims to: (I) outline the rationale for mechanical positioning in LLIF; (II) describe the technical application of a table-mounted positioning system; and (III) discuss its potential advantages and limitations relative to conventional taping methods. No quantitative outcome data are presented, and further study is required to evaluate clinical impact.

Indexed as

lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF)Novel techniquepatient positioning

Identifiers

PMID42591511
PMCPMC13462202

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.