The Necessity of Mandatory Surgical Ergonomics Training in Otolaryngology: A Novel Mini-Review

Abstract

Ziyang Li, Rahul Varman and Joehassin Cordero*

Background: In January 2022, we have published an article that compares cervical neck strain in common otolaryngology surgeries. To our knowledge, it was the first study that quantified ergonomic risk in a variety of otolaryngology surgeries. Due to the continued interest in studying the ergonomic risks in the field of otolaryngology, we decided to perform a mini-review to 1) look into factors that play a role in increasing ergonomic risks for otolaryngologists, 2) summarize any improvements that have been done, and 3) investigate what needs to be done in the near future.

Methods: Three major databases were used: Pubmed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. Search terms: “Otolaryngology”, “Neck Strain”, “Surgeon” and “Ergonomic risks” were used interchangeably to maximize the search results. A total of 119 articles were found, and 6 articles were included based on the inclusion criteria: published from 2010-2022, examined partial or all of the six factors, operating room procedures/surgeries only.

Discussion: In the 6 included articles, a total of 1080 responses were collected the percentage that reported work-related physical discomfort ranges from 47.4% to 80.0%. Four out of six articles reported that age had been a non-significant factor to increase pain from OR procedures. A total of 3 articles examined sex as a potential factor; only 1 article reported it as a significant factor, and the rest two reported sex as a non-significant factor. Five out of 6 articles stated years of practice as a non-significant factor in causing procedure-related physical discomfort. Three out of 6 articles reported the percentage of surgeons without previous ergonomics knowledge, ranging from 63% to 100%. For the percentage of physicians who received treatment, 3 out of 6 articles were investigated and it ranged from 23% to 85%.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first mini-review aiming at compiling and analyzing six potential factors that play roles in surgical ergonomics within the field of otolaryngology. Age, sex, and years in practice do not play significant roles in OR ergonomics. However, physical discomfort and the percentage of otolaryngologists who received treatment after surgeries remain high with minor improvement over the last decades. Implementing mandatory ergonomic training is necessary to protect and maintain the physical health of our fellow otolaryngologists.