The ‘Cross-Legged Foetal Sitting Neuraxial Position’: Is it Beneficial?-A Prospective Randomised Clinical Trial Via Ultrasonography
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Original Article
P: 371-378
October 2020

The ‘Cross-Legged Foetal Sitting Neuraxial Position’: Is it Beneficial?-A Prospective Randomised Clinical Trial Via Ultrasonography

Turk J Anaesthesiol Reanim 2020;48(5):371-378
1. Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Yeditepe University School of Medicine, İstanbul-Turkey
2. Department of Radiology, Ministry of Health İstanbul Provincial Health Directorate Istanbul Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey
No information available.
No information available
Received Date: 28.04.2019
Accepted Date: 15.08.2019
Publish Date: 26.12.2019
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ABSTRACT

Objective:

The primary aim of the present study was to compare the ‘cross-legged foetal sitting position’ (CFSP) with the ‘sitting foetal position’ (SFP) sonographically. The secondary aim was to compare their comfort.

Methods:

A randomised, consecutive controlled, single-blinded trial was performed in Yeditepe University. A total of 50 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were body mass index (BMI) >40 kg m-2, lumbar hernia, scoliosis, history of spine surgery, lower back pain or trauma, especially pelvic or knee problems related to arthropathy and not able to do one/both of the two position techniques. The two positioning techniques were evaluated by ultrasonography (USG) and 5-point Numerical Rating Scale (5-NRS) patient satisfaction of comfort questionnaire. Seven outcomes via USG were evaluated, subcutaneous tissue (ST), skin to spinous process (S–SP), transverse diameters of right and left paraspinal muscles (RPM and LPM), interspinous gap opening (ISGO), mean of bilateral paraspinal muscle (MPM) and CFSP–SFP change (CFSP–SFP). Stretcher comfort, position comfort, lumbar comfort (LC) and abdominal comfort (AC) were evaluated by participants with the 5-NRS.

Results:

In the CFSP, the mean ST and S–SP were significantly (p<0.0001) shorter, and LPM, RPM and MPM were significantly (p<0.0001) wider. The mean ISGO in the CFSP was significantly (p<0.0001) broader. The CFSP was significantly more comfortable than the SFP according to the LC (p=0.02). Only ISGO was found to be significantly broader in the male participant group (p=0.01) and in the BMI ≥25 group (p=0.02) according to CFSP–SFP.

Conclusion:

Considering all ultrasonographic anatomical measurements and according to the 5-NRS related to LC, the CFSP appears to be more advantageous than the SFP as a neuraxial positioning technique.

Keywords:
Conduction anaesthesia
diagnostic imaging
lumbar vertebrae
patient positioning
patient satisfaction