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Ergonomics of minimally invasive surgery: an analysis of muscle effort and fatigue in the operating room between laparoscopic and robotic surgery

  • 2018 SAGES Oral
  • Published:
Surgical Endoscopy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Our aim was to determine how objectively-measured and self-reported muscle effort and fatigue of the upper-limb differ between surgeons performing laparoscopic (LAP) and robotic-assisted (ROBOT) surgeries.

Methods

Surgeons performing LAP or ROBOT procedures at a single-institution were enrolled. Objective muscle activation and self-reported fatigue were evaluated, and comparisons were made between approaches. Muscle activation of the upper trapezius (UT), anterior deltoid (AD), flexor carpi radialis (FCR), and extensor digitorum (ED) were recorded during the surgical procedure using Trigno wireless surface electromyography (EMG). The maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) was obtained to normalize root-mean-square muscle activation as %MVCRMS. The median frequency (MDF) was calculated to assess muscle fatigue. Each surgeon also completed the validated Piper Fatigue Scale-12 (PFH-12) before and after the procedure for self-perceived fatigue assessment. Statistical analysis was done using SAS/STAT software, with α = 0.05.

Results

28 surgeries were recorded (LAP: N = 18, ROBOT: N = 10). EMG analysis revealed the ROBOT group had a higher muscle activation than LAP for UT (37.7 vs. 25.5, p = 0.003), AD (8.9 vs. 6.3, p = 0.027), and FCR (14.4 vs. 10.9, p = 0.019). Conversely, LAP required more effort for the ED, represented by a significantly lower MDF compared to the ROBOT group (91.2 ± 1.5 Hz vs. 102.8 ± 1.5 Hz, p < 0.001). Survey analysis revealed no differences in self-reported fatigue before and after the surgery between approaches, p = 0.869.

Conclusions

Our analysis revealed surgeons show similar fatigue levels performing the first case of the day using either robotic or LAP surgery. Surgeons performing LAP surgery had more fatigue in the forearm, robotic surgery required more shoulder and neck use, but neither was superior. Neither technique produced significant overall fatigue on survey. Long-term selective use of these different muscles could be correlated with different patterns of injury. Future studies are needed to fully understand long-term implications of prolonged surgery on occupational injury.

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Funding

Funding for this study was provided by the SAGES Robotic Surgery Research Grant and Center for Advanced Surgical Technology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Advanced Surgical Technology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986246 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6246, USA

    Priscila R. Armijo, Melissa Leon, Ka-Chun Siu & Dmitry Oleynikov

  2. College of Allied Health Professions, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984420 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-4420, USA

    Chun-Kai Huang & Ka-Chun Siu

  3. Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984375 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-4375, USA

    Robin High

  4. Department of Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986245 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6245, USA

    Dmitry Oleynikov

Authors
  1. Priscila R. Armijo
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  2. Chun-Kai Huang
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  3. Robin High
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  4. Melissa Leon
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  5. Ka-Chun Siu
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  6. Dmitry Oleynikov
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dmitry Oleynikov.

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Disclosures

Dmitry Oleynikov is the shareholder of Virtual Incision Corporation. Priscila Rodrigues Armijo, Chun-Kai Huang, Robin High, Melissa Leon and Ka-Chun Siu have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Armijo, P.R., Huang, CK., High, R. et al. Ergonomics of minimally invasive surgery: an analysis of muscle effort and fatigue in the operating room between laparoscopic and robotic surgery. Surg Endosc 33, 2323–2331 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6515-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6515-3

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