title: Ergonomics in Laparoscopic Surgery--A Survey of Symptoms and Contributing Factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate physical/cognitive symptoms experienced by clinicians undertaking laparoscopic surgery (LS) in relation to demographics, operating factors, and instruments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty trainees/consultants practicing LS in Southeast England completed a 17-question survey. Results were analyzed using nonparametric tests of metric, ordinal, and binomial data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-five percent of respondents reported moderate/severe symptoms during long cases (>2 h). Worse neck/shoulder (N=45, P=0.01), back (N=44, P=0.002), and fatigue/irritability (N=42, P=0.02) symptoms were reported for long (vs. short) cases. Assistants reported worse back symptoms than principle operators (N=43, P=0.02, long cases). Females (vs. males), glove size ≤6.5 (vs. ≥7.0), and experience ≤5years (vs. 5 to 10, >10 y) reported worse symptoms relating to handle dimensions (N=45, P=0.004, 0.001, 0.01, respectively). Ninety-six percent believe ergonomics should be incorporated into LS courses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Principle and assistant surgeons experience adverse symptoms during LS; ergonomics training and handles dimensions, accommodating female surgeons, and smaller glove sizes may reduce this.
authors.affiliation: Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, Margate, Kent, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Joanna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: Mohan Raj
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Harilingam
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamade
mesh_terms: D003253:Consultants; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000009:adverse effects; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D061646:Operative Time; D012737:Sex Factors; D013525:Surgical Instruments / Q000009:adverse effects