Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Work-related musculoskeletal symptoms amongst Otolaryngologists and Head and Neck surgeons in Canada

  • Miscellaneous
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The first objective of this study was to identify work-related musculoskeletal symptoms and determine their prevalence in the practice of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck surgery in Canada. The second objective was to establish potential associations between those musculoskeletal symptoms and variables related to demographic status of the surgeons, their workload and work ergonomics. This study was designed as a Canadian census on work-related musculoskeletal symptoms amongst Otolaryngologist and Head and Neck surgeons. The census was a self-administered electronic survey. It was distributed to all Otolaryngologists and Head and Neck surgeons members of either the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery or the Association of Oto-rhinolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery of Quebec. The questionnaire contained three sections: demographic and workload-related data, identification of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms and evaluation of working ergonomics. The response rate was 23%. Ninety seven percent (97%) of respondents experienced some physical symptom in one or many regions of their body. Seventy-four percents (74%) of respondents noted an exacerbation of their musculoskeletal symptoms by work. Musculoskeletal symptoms limited the daily activities of 45% of respondents while 23% think that their occupational longevity will be diminished by these limitations. The prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders is high among otolaryngologists and its impact on the surgeon’s personal and professional life is high. There is a need to improve ergonomics in the clinical and operative room settings and to educate surgeons on ergonomic principles.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Mirbod SM, Yoshida H, Miyamoto K, Miyashita K, Inaba R, Iwata H (1995) Subjective complaints in orthopedists and general surgeons. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 67:179–186

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Szeto GPY, Ho P, Ting ACW, Poon JTC, Cheng SWK, Tsang RCC (2009) Work-related musculoskeletal symptoms in surgeons. J Occup Rehabil 19:175–184

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Milerad E, Ekenvall L (1990) Symptoms of the neck and upper extremities in dentists. Scand J Work Environ Health 16:129–134

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Yoong W, Sanchez-Crespo J, Rob J et al (2008) Sticks and stones may break my bones: work-related orthopaedic injuries sustained during obstetrics and gynaecology training. J Obstet Gynaecol 28:478–481

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Dolan LM, Martin DH (2001) Backache in gynaecologists. Occup Med 51:433–438

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kant IJ, de Jong LC, van Rijssen-Moll M, Borm PJ (1992) A survey of static and dynamic work postures of operating room staff. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 63:423–428

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Ayad T, Peloquin L, Prince F (2005) Ergonomics in endoscopic sinus surgery: systematic review of the literature. J Otolaryngol 2005 34:333–340

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Statham M, Sukits AL, Redfern MS, Smith LJ, Sok JC, Rosen CA (2010) Ergonomic analysis of microlaryngoscopy. Laryngoscope 120(2):297–305

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Cavanagh J, Brake M, Kearns D, Hong P (2012) Work environment discomfort and injury: an ergonomic survey study of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology members. Am J Otolaryngol 33:441–446

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Edwards PJ, Roberts I, Clarke MJ et al. (2009) Methods to increase response to postal and electronic questionnaires [update of Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;(2):MR000008; PMID: 17443629]. Cochrane Database Syst Rev:MR000008

  11. Welcker K, Kesieme EB, Internullo E, Kranenburg van Koppen LJC (2012) Ergonomics in thoracoscopic surgery: results of a survey among thoracic surgeons. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg 15:197–200

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. WHO (1985) Identification and control of work-related diseases. WHO, Geneva, pp 7–11

  13. Vijendren A, Yung M, Sanchez J, Duffield K (2016) Occupational musculoskeletal pain amongst ENT surgeons—are we looking at the tip of an iceberg? J Laryngol Otol 130(5):490–496

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Dorion D, Darveau S (2013) Do micopauses prevent surgeon’s fatigue and loss of accuracy associated with prolonged surgery? An experimental prospective study. Ann Surg 257:256–259

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Vereczkel A, Bubb H, Feussner H (2003) Laparoscopic surgery and ergonomics: It’s time to think of ourselves as well. Surg Endosc 17:1680–1682

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank all the respondents to this survey. We thank Miguel Chagnon for his contribution to the statistical analyses.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tareck Ayad.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bolduc-Bégin, J., Prince, F., Christopoulos, A. et al. Work-related musculoskeletal symptoms amongst Otolaryngologists and Head and Neck surgeons in Canada. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 275, 261–267 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-017-4787-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-017-4787-1

Keywords

Navigation