Episode # 2 • 13 Nov 2022
Surgeon Ergonomics
with Dr. Amy Park, Dr. Mark Hoffman
On this episode of BackTable OBGYN, we introduce our co-host Dr. Amy Park, the Section Head of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. She and Dr. Mark Hoffman raise awareness about the importance of surgeon ergonomics in preventing work-related musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries and optimizing career longevity.
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More about this episode
Dr. Park, a co-founder of the Society of Surgical Ergonomics, begins the episode by sharing her personal experience with a work-related shoulder injury and how it inspired her to prioritize surgeon ergonomics in her daily practice. She and Dr. Hoffman then encourage listeners to acknowledge the role of optimizing factors such as table height, body posture, and more in order to maximize the longevity of a surgeon’s career and thus patient care.
The co-hosts then cover pitfalls commonly identified in normal, open surgery (e.g. excessive neck flexion, truncal deviation, arm abduction) and laparoscopic surgery (e.g. body posture, monitor height). They transition to highlight possible resolutions to these pitfalls, including anti-fatigue mats, appropriate footwear, and proper posturing; ultimately addressing a need for further research in this aspect of medicine. Lastly, they cover the role of robotic surgery and the potential to either mitigate or worsen the risk for work-related MSK injuries.
The episode wraps up with a call to bring awareness to the value of surgeon ergonomics and to proactively impart this knowledge onto trainees, as the overall goal for surgeons is likely to continue operating and impacting patient care.
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