Foster bed, a special bed used in the care and treatment of severely injured patients, especially those with spinal injuries. It consists of two Bradford frames mounted on a castered base. The assembly is attached to a rotary bearing mechanism, permitting horizontal turning of the patient without moving the spine. The patient can be rotated to supine and prone positions while maintaining proper immobilization and alignment of injured body structures. A horizontal turning frame permits hyperextension and traction at each end of the frame, and either end of the bed can be elevated to provide countertraction. It can be used in posttraumatic management of patients with spinal instability, with or without cord damage, and in the management of the postoperative patient with multilevel spinal fusion when weight-bearing or ambulation is contraindicated. The Foster bed is also used for halo-femoral traction and maintenance of continuous cervical traction in flexion for patients with unstable cervical neck problems. Compare CircOlectric (COL) bed™, hyperextension bed, Stryker wedge frame. See also Bradford frame.
