title: FESS, fingers and other things--you are not alone!
abstract: The objectives of the study were: firstly, to determine the prevalence and severity of musculoskeletal symptoms attributed to the use of endoscope or body posture during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) among members of the British Rhinological Society (BRS); and secondly, to review the available literature and highlight posture recommendations during ESS.
  
  
  
  The study design consisted of a cross-sectional survey carried out among members of the BRS. The survey was distributed electronically and data was collected for statistical analysis.
  
  
  
  A total of 82 members responded to the questionnaire (22.4%); 78 respondents (94%) answered the main questions in the survey regarding the symptoms attributed to the use of endoscope or body posture during ESS. Fifty-three respondents (64%) completed all 19 questions. 58% and 59% of the 78 respondents reported suffering from pain and stiffness respectively. We found positive correlations between musculoskeletal symptoms and operating in the standing position and musculoskeletal symptoms and age.
  
  
  
  This survey reveals a high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms, attributed to ESS and body posture during surgery, among the British rhinologists who responded to the survey. ESS is evidently physically demanding on the surgeon with potential personal health hazards. This emphasizes the need to increase awareness among surgeons, familiarize ourselves with good operating posture habits and new ergonomic instruments and to create a drive to change operating theatre culture in an attempt to reduce these health risks.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rimmer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swift
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Lund
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D010820:Physicians; D011187:Posture; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence