Neck/Shoulder Problems and Visual Disturbances Among Surgeons: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Surgical Innovation
• Occupational Health
• Ergonomics

Background:

• Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) reduces incision size but may cause physical problems for surgeons.
• Neck/shoulder issues and visual disturbances are common complaints among surgeons performing MIS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and severity of neck/shoulder problems and visual disturbances in surgeons.
• To identify proposed risk factors associated with these physical complaints.
• To explore the evidence for a concurrent relationship between neck/shoulder problems and visual disturbances.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review was conducted using a five-stage framework.
• Searches across major databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus) and hand-searching were performed.
• Methodological quality of included cross-sectional studies was assessed.

Main Results:

• Ten articles met inclusion criteria, reporting wide prevalence ranges: neck (6-74%), shoulders (7-80%), and visual disturbances (0.4-63%).
• Severity varied, and risk factors included workplace ergonomics, surgical factors, and surgeon-specific elements.
• No studies established a direct relationship between neck/shoulder problems and visual disturbances.

Conclusions:

• Significant variability exists in reported prevalence of neck/shoulder problems and visual disturbances among surgeons.
• Shared risk factors are identified for both conditions, but their interrelationship remains under-investigated.