The Beach Chair Position

Abstract

The beach chair or barbershop position is used to facilitate several forms of surgery, by placing the patient in a semi-sitting position. A standard operating table or a special “beach chair” table can be used. Typically the patient is placed in 10⁰ to 15⁰ of Trendelenburg, the hips are flexed to 45⁰ to 90⁰ and the knees are flexed to 30⁰. The feet are supported with a foot bar to keep the ankles at 90⁰. The head, neck and torso are supported in a neutral position by straps and or special attachments.¹ This position has been used to facilitate various forms of surgery:² a. Neurosurgery: Posterior fossa or cervical spine surgery. b. Orthopaedics: Shoulder surgery, either open or arthroscopic. c. Other: e.g. Thyroid surgery, Plastic surgery.