The Orthopedic Table Versus the Standard OR Bed for the Anterior Approach

Abstract

A common misconception of surgeons as they approach hip surgery is related to the use of the orthopedic table. Over the past 50 years of orthopedic surgery, the typical North American exposure to hip surgery on a specialized table involved a hip pinning or femoral nailing procedure performed on a large, sometimes cumbersome table such as the “Chick Table.” These tables were commonly called the “fracture table” or “traction table” as they were utilized predominantly when traction was required as the most important manipulation required to reduce a displaced fracture.