The effect of patient positioning on the relative position of the aorta to the thoracic spine.

Purpose: Detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the thoracic aorta is crucial for thoracolumbar spinal surgery. The purpose of the present study is to describe the relative displacement of the aorta to the spine in supine, prone and prone position with padding. Improved understanding of the magnitude and direction of this often-overlooked change could benefit preoperative planning and decision-making.