Choosing an Operating Room Hand Table for Hand and Arm Surgery

What a hand surgery table does

A hand surgery table, sometimes called an arm surgery table or arm board with extension, holds the limb at a convenient height beside the patient so the surgeon and assistant can sit and work with the forearm supported. It keeps the hand steady for fine work, offers a surface for instruments and, where designed for it, lets the arm be imaged without moving it.

Hand tables come in fixed-width, extendable and carbon-fibre or other radiolucent versions. The right choice depends on whether you do mostly soft tissue work or procedures under fluoroscopy.

How the hand table attaches to the OR table

Most hand tables clamp onto the side rails of the operating table, so rail compatibility is the first check. Standard side rails exist in different profiles, and an accessory made for one profile may not fit another. The OR table should offer secure accessory rails along the length of the top. For instance, Lojer Scandia Prime has full-length accessory rails and interchangeable sections, which gives flexibility in where the hand table is placed.

Ask for the clamp type, the maximum load on the extension and the way the table is released. A poor clamp lets the platform sag or twist under the weight of the arm and instruments.

• Rail profile and clamp compatibility with your OR tables
• Rated load on the extension
• Height and angle adjustment while the patient is draped
• Locking mechanism that cannot release accidentally

Stability, size and ergonomics

A good hand table is rigid enough that no vibration reaches the instruments. Check the thickness, joint construction and whether the surface is wide enough for the instrument set but not so large that it limits access for the team's knees and stools. The OR table also needs a column that stays steady when the patient's weight shifts to one side.

The OR table matters for ergonomics. A slim base lets the surgeon sit close, and a wide range of height adjustment suits both seated and standing work. Tables such as the Smarter Practico have a low base with 360-degree C-arm access, and memory positions help restore the setting between cases.

Radiolucency and imaging

If you use a mini C-arm or fluoroscopy for fracture work, a radiolucent hand table avoids obscuring the image. Ask which part of the platform is radiolucent, where metal clamps and hinges sit relative to the field of view, and whether the material is compatible with your disinfection routine.

For a hand and arm list in a day-surgery unit, a trolley-style table can also be useful; the Rapido Upper Body model from Lojer is described for thoracic, ENT and hand and arm procedures. See our overview of operating table accessories for more on fitting out the table.

A final tip is to involve the surgeons who will use the hand table in the trial. They quickly notice problems with knee clearance, tray height and clamp stiffness that a specification sheet will not show.

Cleaning, service and buying advice

Choose a hand table with smooth surfaces and few crevices that withstands the disinfectants your hospital uses. Check that spare clamps and pads can be ordered locally and ask about warranty. Confirm the registration status of the product with the relevant UAE authority.

To discuss which hand table suits your OR tables, request a consultation from Beckfinity and our specialists will check rail compatibility with the Lojer tables we supply.