Industry commentary — August 2026
The prone position is the access of choice for posterior fossa neurosurgery, thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, lumbar discectomy, and percutaneous nephrolithotomy. It is also the position associated with the most feared category of OR harm: postoperative visual loss and ischemic optic neuropathy.
Prone position bolster system and three head-pad families: foam, gel, horseshoe.
The two big decisions: head and chest support
Head support comes in three families: the prone headrest with mirror (so the anesthesiologist can verify the eyes stay closed and pressure-free throughout the case), the horseshoe / U-shaped headrest (open-face design), and the Mayfield skull clamp for neurosurgical prone.
Prone headrest with built-in mirror for continuous eye-position monitoring.
Chest support also has three families: carbon-fiber prone frames (imaging-compatible, abdomen hangs free), bolster / chest-roll systems, and full-length gel overlays for shorter cases.
The eye rule and the abdomen rule
Forehead support, never eye support. If the forehead is the highest bony prominence, the eyes hang in a pressure-free cavity. The abdomen must hang free — any pressure on the anterior abdominal wall transmits to the IVC, reduces venous return, and raises epidural venous pressure, translating directly into more bleeding in spine cases.
FAQ
Why is postoperative visual loss still happening in prone cases? Because every step in the chain has to succeed — correct head support, no eye contact, adequate perfusion pressure, no anemia, no hypotension — and any one of them failing for even a few minutes can cause permanent loss.
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.