Work-Related Musculoskeletal Complaints in Surgeons

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal complaints and potential risk factors among Romanian surgeons. Ninety-five surgeons of different specialties (62.11% males) completed a questionnaire about work-related musculoskeletal complaints (WMSCs). Ninety-one surgeons (95.78%) experienced WMSCs at least in one body part in the last year. Most surgeons reported pain in four body parts (33.68%). The most common WMSCs were reported on the lower back (74.73%), followed by complaints in the neck region (55.79%), shoulder and upper back (46.32%), knee (31.58%), wrist–hand (16.84%), elbow (14.74%), hip (11.58%) and ankle–foot (4.21%). Surgeons rated their pain more severe on upper back, lower back and knees. A higher percentage of male surgeons reported upper back pain (χ2(1) = 5.818, p = 0.015). Significant age differences were found between the reported pain sites (F8,278 = 2.666, p = 0.008); the surgeons reporting wrist–hand pain were younger than those reporting neck, shoulders, elbows, dorsal and lumbar pain. Surgeons with significantly less experience in years reported significantly more WMSCs in wrist–hand, hip and ankle–foot regions compared with those more experienced (p < 0.05). Surgeons are at high risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal complaints, which affects both their professional and personal life. Further studies are needed to identify all risk factors and ergonomic strategies to reduce the prevalence and the negative impact of WMSCs.