Is glove size a predictor for occupational injury in obstetrics and gynaecology?

Abstract

We present a survey of occupational injuries sustained by obstetric and gynaecology trainees in the Oxford Region. There appears to be a pattern of dominant hand and shoulder injury associated with specific obstetric procedures. Individuals with smaller hands seem more prone to injury. Female trainees who reported dominant hand injury wear a small glove. With more women entering a traditionally male dominated specialty occupational injuries in this discipline may be on the increase.

Musculoskeletal disorders and discomfort for female surgeons or surgeons with small hand size when using hand-held surgical instruments: a systematic review

“…The oldest study [ 23 ] was from 2004 and the most recent [ 17 ] was published in 2023. The sample size for the surgeon population varied across the studies; six studies [ 22 , 24 , 29 , 34 , 36 , 38 ] had a small sample size ( n ≤ 100), ten studies [ 17 , 25 – 28 , 30 – 32 , 35 , 39 ] had a moderate sample size (between 100 and 400), while three studies [ 23 , 33 , 37 ] had a large sample size ( n ≥ 400). All studies provided detailed populations based on gender or sex except one [ 29 ].…”

“…Subjects were grouped as either having MS problems or not having MS problems Fram (2021) [ 17 ] Female sex is associated with increased reported injury rates and difficulties with use of orthopedic surgical instruments 204 (119 female, 84 male) Rongeurs, reduction clamps, arthroscope, arthroscopic shaver, mallets, kerrisons, needle drivers, ringed instruments, microsagittal saws, forceps, osteotomes, and burrs Numbness, stiffness, fatigue, and pain Filisetti (2015) [ 25 ] Analysis of hand size and ergonomics of instruments in pediatric minimally invasive surgery 138 (33 females, 105 males) Grasper, scissors, dissector, needle holder, staplers, endobag, clip placement, Ligasure, Ultracision, and endoloops Musculoskeletal problems (related to arms or back or legs or neck) Kono (2012) [ 28 ] Rating and issues of mechanical anastomotic staplers in surgical practice: a survey of 241 Japanese gastroenterological surgeons 241 (74 females, 167 males) Circular and linear staplers Stress Lucas-Hernandez (2014) [ 30 ] Ergonomics problems due to the use and design of dissector and needle holder: a survey in minimally invasive surgery 118 (39 females, 79 males) Laparoscopic instruments (dissector and needle holder) Fatigue experienced in shoulder-arm, wrist-hand-fingers, neck, back, and elbow-forearm are the most relevant musculoskeletal disorders. Furthermore, paresthesia, pain, and cramps in the wrist-hand fingers Park (2010) [ 32 ] Patients benefit while surgeons suffer: an impending epidemic 317 (54 females, 261 males) Standard graspers, needle drivers, energy/coagulation devices, stapler Physical discomfort or symptoms in the neck, right hand, arm, and lower extremities Kroon (2009) [ 29 ] Is glove size a predictor for occupational injury in obstetrics and gynecology? 17 Neville-Barnes forceps Neurapraxia, RMCL thumb, ulna collateral ligaments, extensor compartment, upper arm, shoulder, back and neck, head, ankle Shepherd (2016) [ …”

“…Trainees also reported having problems when using surgical hand-held instruments. Kroon [ 29 ] stated that female trainees reported injuries to their dominant hand. Morais [ 31 ] also mentioned that 78.2% of surgeons believed that hand size affected endoscopy learning.…”

Work‐related musculoskeletal injuries among obstetricians and gynaecologists: A cross‐sectional survey of Fellows of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)

“…In our survey, female O&Gs were twice as likely to suffer a WRMI. The vulnerability of women to suffer WRMI has been previously reported and its causation is a topic of ongoing research 4,8–10 . The number of female O&Gs in Australia and New Zealand has been steadily increasing and currently women make up half of all Fellows of RANZCOG 11,12 .…”