Using the Heffington frame in elective lumbar spinal surgery.

Numerous techniques and frames are available to position the patient on an operating table for elective lumbar spine surgery. We utilized the Heffington frame to position 27 patients with hips and knees flexed and abdomen free. This group was compared with those patients positioned prone during surgery. Our data indicate that average intraoperative blood loss is reduced by the use of such a frame, a finding that is attributable to maximal decompression of the abdomen. Complications related to the Heffington frame were not observed in our series of patients.