TY - JOUR
T1 - Work-Related Musculoskeletal Discomfort and Injury in Microsurgeons
AU - Howarth, Ashley L.
AU - Hallbeck, Susan
AU - Mahabir, Raman
AU - Lemaine, Valerie
AU - Evans, Gregory R.D.
AU - Noland, Shelley
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Background: Long surgical procedures with loupe magnification and microscopes may put microsurgeons at an increased risk of musculoskeletal discomfort. Identifying the prevalence and impact of work-related musculoskeletal discomfort may guide preventive strategies to prolong well-being, job satisfaction, and career duration. Methods: An online 29-question survey was designed to evaluate work-related musculoskeletal discomfort. The survey was created and distributed electronically through a private survey research center and was sent to the members of the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery. Results: There were 117 respondents (16.7% response rate): 80% were men; 69% were aged 31 to 50 years; and 68% were in academic practice. On a scale of 0 to 10 (0, no pain and 10, worst pain), the median for work-related musculoskeletal discomfort for surgery without loupes or microscope was 2; with loupes, 4; and with a microscope, 5. Pain was most common in the neck. Half of the surgeons reported pain within 4 hours of surgery, and 57% feared that pain would influence future surgical performance. Surgeon discomfort affected posture (72%), stamina (36%), sleep (29%), relationships (25%), concentration (22%), and surgical speed (19%). Tremor caused by the discomfort occurred in 8%. Medical treatment for discomfort was sought by 29%. Time off work for treatment occurred for 8%. Conclusion: Work-related musculoskeletal discomfort can affect many aspects of a microsurgeon's life and has the potential to limit a surgeon's ability to operate. Therefore, more emphasis is needed in the surgical community on the important issues of occupational health and surgical ergonomics for microsurgeons.
AB - Background: Long surgical procedures with loupe magnification and microscopes may put microsurgeons at an increased risk of musculoskeletal discomfort. Identifying the prevalence and impact of work-related musculoskeletal discomfort may guide preventive strategies to prolong well-being, job satisfaction, and career duration. Methods: An online 29-question survey was designed to evaluate work-related musculoskeletal discomfort. The survey was created and distributed electronically through a private survey research center and was sent to the members of the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery. Results: There were 117 respondents (16.7% response rate): 80% were men; 69% were aged 31 to 50 years; and 68% were in academic practice. On a scale of 0 to 10 (0, no pain and 10, worst pain), the median for work-related musculoskeletal discomfort for surgery without loupes or microscope was 2; with loupes, 4; and with a microscope, 5. Pain was most common in the neck. Half of the surgeons reported pain within 4 hours of surgery, and 57% feared that pain would influence future surgical performance. Surgeon discomfort affected posture (72%), stamina (36%), sleep (29%), relationships (25%), concentration (22%), and surgical speed (19%). Tremor caused by the discomfort occurred in 8%. Medical treatment for discomfort was sought by 29%. Time off work for treatment occurred for 8%. Conclusion: Work-related musculoskeletal discomfort can affect many aspects of a microsurgeon's life and has the potential to limit a surgeon's ability to operate. Therefore, more emphasis is needed in the surgical community on the important issues of occupational health and surgical ergonomics for microsurgeons.
KW - injury
KW - microsurgery
KW - occupational pain
KW - plastic surgery
KW - surgery
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85064891256&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85064891256&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1055/s-0038-1675177
DO - 10.1055/s-0038-1675177
M3 - Article
C2 - 30326524
AN - SCOPUS:85064891256
VL - 35
SP - 322
EP - 328
JO - Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery
JF - Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery
SN - 0743-684X
IS - 5
ER -