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Tools and Modalities for Postural Ergonomics Research in Surgery and Neurosurgery

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The Funnel: From the Skull Base to the Sacrum

Part of the book series: Acta Neurochirurgica Supplement ((NEUROCHIRURGICA,volume 135))

Abstract

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are common amongst neurosurgeons and can affect a surgeon’s ability to operate. Performing surgical ergonomics research is important to minimize the prevalence and effect of WMSDs on the surgeons. The aim of this review is to highlight some of the most important objective and subjective tools available for surgical ergonomics research. Subjective tools can be divided into three categories: (1) questionnaires (either validated or non-validated) filled out by the participants, (2) survey assessments/standardized scoring systems filled out by the researchers, and (3) video analysis. Subjective tools have the drawbacks of recall bias and intra-rater and inter-rater variability. Some of the most important objective tools available are surface electromyography, force plate/pressure sensors analysis, inertial measurement units (IMUs) and kinematics data capturing using reflective markers. Although these modalities do not have the drawbacks that hinder the use of subjective tools, using most of them in the real-life operating theatre, with the exception of IMUs, is challenging. Conducting surgical ergonomics research is important to optimize the performance of neurosurgeons. The advancements towards wearable, wireless technologies will make it easier for surgeons to perform ergonomics research in the operating room.

Author Contributions: Study conception and design: all authors. Material preparation, data collection: GM, TRM, and AKD. Drafting of the manuscript: GM, TRM, AKD. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. AKD supervised the project.

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Abbreviations

BPD:

Body Part Discomfort

EMG:

Electromyography

IMUs:

Inertial measurement units

NASA-TLX:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index

NIOSH:

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

REBA:

Rapid entire body assessment

RULA:

Rapid Upper Limb Assessment

sEMG:

Surface electromyography

SURG-TLX:

Surgery task load index

WMSDs:

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders

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Acknowledgments

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Funding

No funding was received for this research.

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Not applicable.

Conflicts of Interest

All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest, or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece

    Georgios Mavrovounis & Konstantinos N. Fountas

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, The National Hospital of Denmark, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Torstein R. Meling

  3. Spine Center, Hospital Del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

    Jesus Lafuente

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, New Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK

    Andreas K. Demetriades

Authors
  1. Georgios Mavrovounis
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  2. Torstein R. Meling
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  3. Jesus Lafuente
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  4. Konstantinos N. Fountas
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  5. Andreas K. Demetriades
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Neurosurgery, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Massimiliano Visocchi

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Mavrovounis, G., Meling, T.R., Lafuente, J., Fountas, K.N., Demetriades, A.K. (2023). Tools and Modalities for Postural Ergonomics Research in Surgery and Neurosurgery. In: Visocchi, M. (eds) The Funnel: From the Skull Base to the Sacrum. Acta Neurochirurgica Supplement, vol 135. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36084-8_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36084-8_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-36083-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-36084-8

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