Of 317 surgeons who completed the survey, 272, or 86.9 percent, reported experiencing physical discomfort or symptoms they attributed to the minimally invasive procedures, according to a press release about the survey, which is to be published in the March 2010 Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
Annual case volume appeared to be a predictor of symptoms, with neck, hand and leg symptoms rising as case volume rose, according to the press release. Some 74 percent of survey respondents listed instrument design as the main source of symptoms, while 40 percent said operating room table setup and display monitor location were to blame.
Read the University of Maryland Medical Center’s press release on laparoscopic surgery injuries.
