Evaluating the efficacy of an educational ergonomics module for improving slit lamp positioning in ophthalmology residents.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize changes in body positioning while performing a standardized slit lamp examination after exposure to an educational module on ergonomics. DESIGN: Prospective interventional pilot study. PARTICIPANTS: Ten ophthalmology residents. METHODS: An educational module discussing ergonomic issues in ophthalmology was created. In a standardized examination lane, participants were recorded performing 3 trials of an indirect slit lamp examination of a volunteer patient, adjusting equipment as they saw fit. Participants were then sent the module and within 2 weeks repeated the trial process. Data were processed using biomechanical software to obtain the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) injury risk score, elbow and shoulder joint reaction moments, neck and trunk flexion angles, and spinal curvature magnitudes. RESULTS: The RULA injury risk scores decreased after completion of the module (95% CI 2.10-2.77), indicating a lesser risk for injury to the resident. Shoulder flexion and elbow abduction moments also decreased (95% CI -3.2 to -1.5 and -0.44 to -0.04, respectively), suggesting a more neutral body posture. The trunk flexion angle increased after completion of the module (95% CI -5.1 to -1.6), signifying a more upright trunk posture; this was confirmed by the lumbar spine curvature, which flattened postmodule (95% CI 6.6-940). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a promising ability for an educational module to mitigate some injury risk in this population during indirect slit lamp examination. It also delineated some awkward postures that persisted despite the module. These results will be reintegrated into the module to optimize its educational utility.

Cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive on a polyglactin scaffold in strabismus surgery: a laboratory study.

BACKGROUND: The use of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives in strabismus surgery has been variously successful, depending primarily on achieving adequate bond strength and minimizing extraocular muscle slippage. We investigate a novel approach to this problem, involving cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive on a polyglactin 910 scaffold as a means to secure extraocular muscle to the sclera for strabismus surgery. METHODS: In this experimental laboratory study, butyl-cyanoacrylate was used to fix a polyglactin 910 scaffold to the sclera of cadaver eyes. After allowing for polymerization, a force was applied to the mesh until the polyglactin-sclera bond failed. The maximum load (g) required for bond failure was recorded. The effects of surface area of the polyglactin 910 mesh as well as time required for cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive polymerization on bond strength were investigated. RESULTS: All combination of variables tested, except for experiments involving polyglactin 910 mesh that is 30 mm(2) with a polymerization time of 15 seconds or 30 seconds and polyglactin 910 mesh that is 40 mm(2) with a polymerization time of 15 seconds, achieved a bond strength that was significantly greater than those forces seen in a physiologic setting (P > 0.05). Increasing area or time resulted in increasing bond strength. Area and time were found to be independent variables. CONCLUSIONS: The cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive-derived polyglactin-sclera bond achieved a maximum load greater than those seen in a physiologic setting. Our novel approach demonstrates a clinically feasible alternative to traditional means for bonding muscle to sclera in strabismus surgery.