Identification of risk factors for fatigue and pain when performing surgical interventions.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of fatigue and pain following surgical activities. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. We distributed a self-evaluation questionnaire to 180 surgeons to investigate working postures and fatigue and/or pain following working activities. RESULTS: 100 surgeons replied (74 male), mean age 40.1 (SD 10.85; 26-65). Multivariate analysis suggests that the highest risk factor for developing muscle fatigue whilst performing surgical operations is standing compared to sitting (OR 4.92; 95% CI 1.32-18.33),followed by the ability to alternate between the two postures (OR 3.46 95% CI 1.26-9.52). Surgeons who complain of intense fatigue when standing have 16 times the risk of developing musculoskeletal pain than surgeons who complain of light fatigue when standing (OR 15.77; 95% CI 1.51-164.37). The ability to adjust the height of the operating table before each operation reduces the risk of developing musculoskeletal pain by 83% (OR 017; 95% CI 0.03-0.87); 90.9% of surgeons who rest their forearms for less than half the duration of an operation reported pain. CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue and pain associated with performing surgical interventions could be managed more effectively by controlling the working posture, being able to rest forearms, being able to regulate the height of the operating table, and possibly by applying the ergonomic guidelines.