Efficiency of Foot and Ankle Surgeries Completed on the Preoperative Stretcher vs Operating Room Table: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Extremity surgeons frequently operate on the preoperative stretcher rather than the operating room (OR) table. This study sought to identify differences between stretcher-based (SB) and OR table–based (TB) procedures with regard to time efficiency and OR team member preferences. Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial comparing the efficiency of SB vs OR TB foot and ankle procedures. Fifty-two patients undergoing a hardware removal, isolated gastrocnemius recession, soft tissue procedure, or foreign body removal at our day surgery unit were included. Start time and exit time were recorded. “Start time” was the number of minutes between the patient entering the OR and first incision. “Exit time” was the number of minutes between the procedure ending and the patient exiting the OR. Surveys were disseminated to OR staff who participated in the included cases. Results: The total measured time in the OR was an average 6 minutes shorter in the Stretcher group compared to the OR Table group (10 minutes vs 16 minutes, P