Prevalence of Back and Neck Pain in Orthopaedic Surgeons in Western New York

Abstract

Introduction:The physical requirement of orthopaedic surgeons makes them highly vulnerable to musculoskeletal (MSK) injury. Previous studies have shown the prevalence of back and neck pain in orthopaedic surgeons to be approximately 50%. We hypothesize the prevalence of back and neck pain in orthopaedic surgeons in the Western New York region to be similar to what has been previously reported. Methods: A survey was sent through e-mail to all actively practicing orthopaedic surgeons in Western New York. A total of 94 surgeons were asked to participate, and 53 responded. Data for demographics, back pain, neck pain, and the impact of MSK pain on lifestyle and career practices were collected and compared with previous research. Results: Seventy-seven percent of respondents reported back pain, whereas 74% reported neck pain, both of which are greater than those seen previously. Sixteen surgeons reported receiving medical treatment currently or in the past for their MSK pain. Fourteen surgeons said that their pain has caused them to adapt their practice and/or operating room setup. Conclusion: We found the prevalence of back and neck pain in this population to be higher than that previously reported. Additional investigation into the possible causes of the higher prevalence should include the number of arthroscopic procedures done, the amount of time spent wearing lead vests, and the number of hours spent in the operating room by residents. Orthopaedic surgeons are constantly subjected to physically demanding conditions that put them at an increased risk for developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Long operating room hours coupled with poor posture and repetitive muscle movements have been previously identified as a source of chronic pain, dysfunction, and decreased quality of life. Previous studies have demonstrated that more than half of all currently practicing orthopaedic surgeons have developed some degree of chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain, with cervical and lumbar pain being

The Biomechanical Burden of Orthopaedic Procedures and Musculoskeletal Injuries Sustained by Orthopaedic Surgeons

“…Two studies reported the most common adaptations as change in body position (58% to 80%), use of specialized footwear (35% to 64%), and change of surgical field height (39% to 49%) 31,32 . In addition, 33.3% to 59.3% of responding surgeons indicated that their operative performance was affected or will be affected in the future 6,9,27,31,32 , with 12.1% to 15.1% believing they will be unable to meet the demands of their job until their intended retirement age 8,39 .…”

“…Overall, 17 studies reported on orthopaedic surgeons who required treatment for a MSK condition 4,6-9,21-25,27,28,31,32,38-40 (Table III). Of surgeons with any reported MSK symptom or injury, 27% to 65.7% required nonoperative treatment and 3.2% to 34.3% required surgery 6-9,21-23,25,27,28,31,32,39 . Medical attention was most commonly sought for the neck (14%-73%), knee/lower leg (5.0%-73%), foot/ankle (4.6%-75%), and lower back (12%-64%) 4,9,21-24 .…”

“…At the conclusion of screening, 34 articles were included in the present systematic review 4-9,13-40 (Fig. 1).…”

“…1). Eight studies reported on the biomechanical burden of orthopaedic procedures 13-20 , while 26 studies reported on MSK symptoms or injuries experienced by orthopaedic surgeons 4-9,21-40 .…”

“…Previous studies assessing MSK injuries in orthopaedic surgeons have largely been separate, cross-sectional evaluations of a small cohort [5][6][7][8][9] . Existing reviews have characterized the range of occupational hazards that orthopaedic surgeons are exposed to, including infection, radiation, smoke, chemicals, excessive noise, MSK injuries, and emotional and psychological disturbances [10][11][12] .…”