Surgical ergonomics. Analysis of technical skills, simulation models and assessment methods

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Human Factors Engineering
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• The surgical profession has evolved significantly, with increasing emphasis on quality assurance, patient safety, and cost-effectiveness.
• Training expert surgeons requires a focus on foundational gross and fine motor skills.
• Societal demands necessitate robust training models for surgical professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze ergonomic principles relevant to surgical training.
• To propose effective training techniques for surgeons.
• To provide insights from both trainer and trainee perspectives.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of pre-operative preparation and technical skills.
• Evaluation of instrument handling and low-fidelity simulation models.
• Discussion of crew resource management, deliberate practice, and assessment strategies.

Main Results:

• Ergonomic principles, appropriate posture, and non-dominant hand utilization are key skills.
• Low-fidelity simulation models facilitate early learning curve progression.
• Rehearsal, warm-up, and motivation techniques improve focus and concentration.

Conclusions:

• Surgical ergonomics is fundamental to training surgeons for patient safety.
• Deliberate practice and innate ability are complementary for skill development.
• Highly skilled operators and reliable teams are essential for safe medical care.