Thank you to our blog contributor: Mark VonGrey, BoneFoam account executive, Global Partners
Rethinking Patient Positioning for Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery
If you've spent anytime in an OR during anterior cervical procedures, you've seen the ritual: rolls of tape pulled across the patient's shoulders, adjusted, re-adjusted, and adjusted again. It works, sort of. But "sort of" is a low bar when we're talking about surgical visualization, patient safety, and OR efficiency.
The challenge with traditional tape-based shoulder depression is well known. It's inconsistent. It's time-consuming to set up. And it often falls short when it comes to visualizing the lower cervical spine, exactly where clear imaging matters most for ACDF, ADR, and ACCF procedures. Surgeons end up working around positioning limitations rather than focusing on the procedure itself. That's the problem BoneFoam's Nextend Anterior Cervical Positioning System was designed to solve.
Request a quote or ask about our free U.S. trial of the Nextend Anterior Cervical Positioning System
Better Visualization Where It Counts
The Nextend system provides controlled, reliable depression of the shoulder girdle, which directly improves radiographic visualization of the lower cervical segments. Instead of hoping tape holds well enough to pull the shoulders down and out of the image, the system's traction Y-strap gives surgeons the option of intermittent or sustained traction, adjustable on the fly regardless of patient size. The result is more consistent positioning of anatomic landmarks and clearer imaging throughout the case.
Faster Setup, Less Time Under Anesthesia
Anyone who has watched a surgical team spend 15 or 20+ minutes wrestling with complex tape configurations understands the hidden cost: that's time the patient is under general anesthesia without the procedure moving forward. The Nextend system replaces that complexity with a streamlined setup. Less fussing with tape means the surgical team can move to incision sooner, which is better for the patient and better for OR throughput. Even a team unfamiliar with the Nextend can be set up in under 10 minutes.
A Safer Experience for the Patient
Here's a detail that doesn't get enough attention: adhesive tape applied under tension across skin can cause real injury, particularly in older patients or those with fragile skin. Tape burns, skin tears, and pressure-related irritation are not rare. The Nextend system eliminates that risk entirely by replacing tape with a purpose-built traction mechanism. It's a straightforward improvement in patient safety that costs nothing in terms of performance.
The Bigger Picture
Surgical positioning isn't glamorous. It doesn't make the highlight reel. But it directly affects visualization quality, procedure time, and patient outcomes. When you can improve all three with a single system, it's worth paying attention. If you're involved in spine surgery, OR management, or surgical product evaluation, I'd welcome a conversation about how the Nextend system fits into your workflow.
Mark VonGrey, BoneFoam account executive, Global Partners
Request a quote or ask about our free U.S. trial of the Nextend Anterior Cervical Positioning System