Operating Room Back Table: What It Is and How to Choose One

What is a back table in surgery?

A back table is a stainless steel table on which the scrub team lays out the sterile instrument sets, drapes, sutures and disposable items for a procedure. It is called the back table because it is normally placed behind or beside the scrub nurse, away from the sterile field proper, and it is covered with a sterile drape before instruments are placed on it. It is also described as an instrument table or operating room prep table.

The table must be stable, easy to clean and big enough for the largest instrument sets you use, such as laparoscopy or orthopaedic trays. Because it is covered by a drape, a rigid flat top with rounded edges prevents tears.

Mayo stand and back table: how they differ

A Mayo stand is a small, height-adjustable tray that swings over the patient's lower body or the OR table, holding the instruments the surgeon needs within reach right now. The back table holds the bulk of the set-up and stays in place. In daily practice the scrub nurse moves instruments from the back table onto the Mayo stand as the procedure progresses.

The two are complementary, so plan them together. Our guide to the Mayo stand explains uses and sizes, and the set-up steps are covered in how to set up the Mayo stand and back table.

Construction: stainless steel, edges and castors

Look for stainless steel with welded, smooth seams, because crevices trap fluid and make disinfection harder. Ask about the top thickness, edge finish and whether the frame includes a lower shelf. Castors should be antistatic where required by your theatre policy and have locks that hold on the floor you use.

Check the height of the top relative to your nurses. A back table that is too low causes back strain during long cases. Some theatres choose height-adjustable models for this reason.

• Stainless steel top and frame with smooth welded seams
• Rounded edges that will not tear drapes
• Lockable, antistatic castors
• Stable lower shelf or open frame, as the workflow requires
• Height suited to the team

Electric and adjustable options

Where a fixed-height table is not ideal, an adjustable instrument stand is useful. The Lojer electric Mayo table has a height range of 960 to 1260 mm, adjusted hands-free with a foot control, and a worktop that rotates by 45, 90 and 180 degrees in both directions. It offers two worktop sizes, 700 × 500 mm and 640 × 400 mm, and rolls on three antistatic castors with locks. Lifting capacity is 50 kg with the worktop at 0 degrees and 30 kg with it rotated.

This is a Mayo-type stand rather than a full back table, so use it for the instruments in immediate reach and pair it with a larger fixed-height table for the main set-up.

Buying notes: budget, standards and service

People often search for back table operating room price, but the cost depends on size, materials, the shelf design and whether the table is adjustable. Rather than comparing a single number, compare specifications, warranty and spare-part availability. Always ask what cleaning agents the finish tolerates and confirm product registration requirements with the UAE authority.

For the full list of what a theatre needs, see our operating room equipment list. If you would like help fitting out instrument tables for a new theatre, request a consultation from Beckfinity and our specialists will propose a matching set.