Stress management and balance for the orthopaedic surgeon: mindfulness

Orthopaedic surgeons work in an environment in which decisions must be made in the moment, day-to-day, often with insufficient information and sometimes with immense uncertainty. Surgeons must discern patterns within the unfolding events of patient interviews or in the course of surgery. These patterns must be related to past experience, intuition, weighing the odds, and weighing the benefits and risks. To make these judgment calls, orthopaedic surgeons need ever-present awareness and integrity; they need the ability to embrace mindfulness, or to live in the moment. By tending to the moments of their lives, surgeons can be "in" the moment rather than carelessly letting it drift by. The practice of mindfulness dramatically reduces stress, worry, and regret and replaces these negative reactions with a vibrant awareness, joy, and enthusiasm, which are medicinal and spiritual.