Risk of injuries resulting from surgical positioning

Abstract

Proper surgical positioning is essential to safely expose the operative site and ensure the success of the procedure. However, when performed inadequately, it can result in complications in various body systems, including the circulatory, respiratory, neurological, and integumentary systems. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of injuries resulting from surgical positioning in patients undergoing anesthetic-surgical procedures. It is a cross-sectional, descriptive study with a quantitative approach, conducted in a teaching hospital in Pernambuco, Brazil, with a sample of 180 adult patients. Data collection took place in two phases: upon the patient’s admission to the surgical unit, when clinical and sociodemographic characterization was carried out, and during the intraoperative period, when the Risk Assessment Scale for the Development of Injuries Resulting from Surgical Positioning (ELPO) was applied. The results showed that 33.3% of the patients were at high risk for developing injuries, with the lithotomy position, general anesthesia, and the presence of comorbidities such as vascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and obesity being significantly associated with an increased risk. It is concluded that the systematic use of the ELPO Scale is an effective tool for the early identification of patients with greater vulnerability, supporting preventive interventions and promoting greater safety and quality in perioperative care.