title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Surgery and Rehabilitation, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodigari
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bejor
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carlisi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lisi
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tinelli
authors.forename: Elena Dalla
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Toffola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011187:Posture; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012307:Risk Factors; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires