The Left-handed Plastic Surgery Trainee: Perspectives and Recommendations

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Surgical Training
• Ergonomics

Background:

• Surgical instruments are predominantly designed for right-handed users.
• Left-handed surgeons may experience difficulties and reduced efficiency when using instruments not suited for their dominant hand.
• Understanding these challenges is crucial for optimizing surgical training and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the laterality of instruments found in common plastic surgery trays.
• To survey the experiences of left-handed plastic surgery trainees regarding instrument use and handedness.
• To identify specific surgical tasks where handedness impacts training.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of instrument laterality in reconstructive, microsurgery, rhinoplasty, and craniofacial plastic surgery trays.
• Distribution of a survey to plastic surgery residents and fellows to ascertain hand preference and handedness-related training experiences.
• Statistical comparison of instrument use between left-handed and right-handed trainees.

Main Results:

• A significant proportion of instruments in reconstructive, rhinoplasty, and craniofacial trays exhibited right-handed laterality.
• Left-handed trainees (17.5%) were more likely to use both hands or their nondominant hand for surgical tasks, including scissors, electrocautery, needle drivers, tissue dissection, and microsurgery.
• No significant difference in nondominant hand use was observed for knot tying or scalpel use between left- and right-handed trainees.

Conclusions:

• Left-handed plastic surgery trainees frequently encounter instruments designed for the right hand.
• Trainees adapt by skillfully using their nondominant hand for critical surgical tasks, demonstrating resilience and adaptability.
• Mentorship programs can effectively address laterality-related challenges in surgical residency, improving the training experience.