Systems and methods for supporting and stabilizing a patient during hip distraction

Abstract

A method for hip distraction includes positioning a patient on a patient pad placed on a surgical table; and applying a distraction force to a leg of the patient that is sufficient to distract a hip joint of the patient, wherein the distraction force is opposed by a slide-resisting friction force provided by the patient pad and the patient pad is sufficiently stiff to resist bunching while providing the slide-resisting friction force.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for hip distraction, the method comprising:
 positioning a patient on a patient pad placed on a surgical table; and   applying a distraction force to a leg of the patient that is sufficient to distract a hip joint of the patient, wherein the distraction force is opposed by a slide-resisting friction force provided by the patient pad and the patient pad is sufficiently stiff to resist bunching while providing the slide-resisting friction force.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein applying the distraction force comprises setting a position of a distractor that applies the distraction force. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein applying the distraction force comprises moving a boot of the distractor away from the surgical table. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the distraction force is opposed entirely by the slide-resisting friction force provided by the patient pad. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising strapping the patient pad to the surgical table. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein positioning the patient on the patient pad comprises positioning the patient such that the patient pad extends beneath shoulders and buttocks of the patient. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a first set of straps are located proximate to where shoulders of the patient are positioned and a second set of straps are located proximate to where buttocks of the patient are positioned. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the patient pad comprises a stiffener configured to resist bunching when the patient pad is subjected to a sliding force. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the stiffener comprises one or more plastic sheets. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the stiffener comprises a layer of material disposed on at least one of a top surface and a bottom surface of the patient pad. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the patient pad resists bunching based on a layered structure. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the patient pad comprises a foam material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the foam material comprises a polyether polyurethane blend. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the patient pad comprises a single layer of the foam material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a coefficient of friction provided by the patient pad is at least 0.85. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the patient pad is a disposable pad. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the patient pad comprises at least one visual indicator for indicating how to position the patient pad on the surgical table and/or how to position the patient on the patient pad. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one visual indicator comprises at least one cut-out. 
     
     
         20 . A patient pad comprising:
 a top surface for supporting a patient; and   a bottom surface for engaging a support structure;   wherein the top surface comprises foam;   wherein the bottom surface comprises at least one of foam, a polymer sheet and a woven sheet; and   further wherein the patient pad comprises a stiffener to resist bunching when the patient pad is subjected to a sliding force.   
     
     
         21 . The patient pad of  claim 20 , wherein the stiffener comprises a layer of material disposed between the top surface and the bottom surface. 
     
     
         22 . The patient pad of  claim 20 , wherein the stiffener comprises a layer of material disposed alongside the top surface and/or the bottom surface. 
     
     
         23 . The patient pad of  claim 20 , wherein the stiffener comprises one or more plastic sheets. 
     
     
         24 . The patient pad of  claim 20 , comprising a first set of straps located proximate to where shoulders of the patient are positioned and a second set of straps located proximate to where buttocks of the patient are positioned. 
     
     
         25 . The patient pad of  claim 20 , wherein the foam of the top surface and/or the bottom surface comprises a polyether polyurethane blend. 
     
     
         26 . The patient pad of  claim 20 , wherein a coefficient of friction provided by the patient pad is at least 0.85. 
     
     
         27 . The patient pad of  claim 20 , wherein the patient pad is a disposable pad. 
     
     
         28 . The patient pad of  claim 20 , comprising at least one visual indicator for indicating how to position the patient pad on the support structure and/or how to position the patient on the patient pad. 
     
     
         29 . The patient pad of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one visual indicator comprises at least one cut-out. 
     
     
         30 . A method for patient positioning, the method comprising:
 providing a patient pad comprising:   a top surface for supporting a patient; and   a bottom surface for engaging a support structure;   wherein the top surface comprises foam;   wherein the bottom surface comprises at least one of foam, a polymer sheet and a woven sheet; and   further wherein the patient pad comprises a stiffener to resist bunching when the patient pad is subjected to a sliding force; and   positioning a patient so that the patient is supported by the top surface of the patient pad.