Industry commentary — August 2026
Most OR teams use supine, prone, lateral, lithotomy, and sitting almost exclusively. A small set of special positions appear infrequently but are critical when needed — and dangerous when fumbled.
Park-bench position: head fixation (skull-pin holder) and back/leg support.
Park-bench (semi-lateral, three-quarter prone)
Used for posterior fossa neurosurgery and selective craniotomy. The patient lies semi-prone with the head rotated about 30–45° and flexed, the upper leg flexed, and the upper arm supported on a specialized arm cradle. The position requires skull-clamp fixation, a specialized head-frame adapter, and a surgical-table attachment set.
Knee-chest (jackknife)
The gold-standard access for transanal and anorectal surgery. The patient kneels with the chest on the table and the pelvis elevated. Airway risk is high — a reinforced endotracheal tube and continuous end-tidal CO² monitoring are mandatory — and the abdomen must stay free to avoid compromising ventilation.
Knee-chest position for anorectal surgery and lumbosacral procedures.
FAQ
Do I need a special table for knee-chest? No — but you need a gel chest bolster, an abdominal suspension pad, and face/eye protection that can be repositioned intraoperatively without losing the sterile field.
For more information about Red Sun Medizone surgical positioning systems and other operating-room equipment, please visit www.redsunmedizone.com or contact our sales team.
About Red Sun Medizone: Red Sun Medizone (Tianjin Huahong Technology Co., Ltd.) is a medical device manufacturer and exporter specializing in operating tables, surgical position pads, surgical lights, patient monitors, and in-vitro diagnostics. With CE, ISO 13485, and FDA certifications, the company serves healthcare facilities in over 60 countries worldwide.