Workplace Hazards in Orthopaedic Surgery Training: A Nationwide Resident Survey Involving Sharps-related Injuries

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Occupational Health
• Surgical Safety

Background:

• Surgical specialties face significant occupational hazards, particularly sharps-related injuries.
• Understanding the prevalence and contributing factors of these injuries is crucial for trainee well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of sharps injuries in orthopaedic surgery residents.
• To identify characteristics influencing injury rates and reporting behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A web-based, anonymous survey was distributed to 1,207 orthopaedic surgery residents across 46 US programs.
• Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess factors associated with sharps injuries.
• The study utilized a retrospective observational survey design (Level III evidence).

Main Results:

• A response rate of 42.9% (518 residents) was achieved, with 80.5% reporting at least one sharps injury.
• Needle sticks and Kirschner wires were the most common injury sources; inadequate training and higher seniority correlated with ≥5 injuries.
• Only 42% of residents consistently reported all injuries, citing reasons like perceived low risk and inconvenience.

Conclusions:

• Sharps injuries are highly prevalent among orthopaedic surgical trainees.
• Inadequate, specialty-specific safety training and increasing years of postgraduate training are associated with a higher incidence of sharps injuries.
• Underreporting of sharps injuries is a significant issue, hindering effective safety interventions.