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Passive Exoskeletons During Live Surgeries: Supporting Forward Head Postures Among Veterinary Surgeons
Bowen Zheng1, Haozhi Chen1, Xinsheng Zhou1
1School of Industrial Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors
|October 23, 2024
Summary
A new passive exoskeleton effectively reduced neck pain and stiffness for veterinary surgeons during live surgeries. This innovative device supports forward head posture, mitigating common musculoskeletal symptoms in the operating room.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Surgery
- Ergonomics
- Biomechanical Engineering
Background:
- Musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) are common in veterinary surgeons.
- Forward head postures during surgery pose unique ergonomic risks.
- Exoskeletons are being explored to mitigate surgical risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a passive neck-support exoskeleton for veterinary surgeons.
- To assess the exoskeleton's effectiveness during live surgical procedures.
- To investigate its impact on neck pain and stiffness.
Main Methods:
- Within-subject crossover design with eight surgeons.
- Surgeries performed with and without the neck-support exoskeleton.
- Pre- and post-surgical surveys assessed MSS and perceived effort.
- Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test compared outcomes.
Main Results:
- No increase in neck pain or stiffness reported when using the exoskeleton.
- Greater increases in neck stiffness observed in control surgeries (without exoskeleton).
- Exoskeleton use correlated with reduced post-surgical neck discomfort.
Conclusions:
- A passive forward head posture support exoskeleton shows promise for reducing MSS in surgeons.
- The exoskeleton is a viable intervention for mitigating neck strain during surgery.
- Further research can explore broader applications in surgical ergonomics.
