Colorectal surgeon physical pain and conditioning: a national survey

Workplace injuries are increasingly recognized as a substantial detriment to surgeon longevity and productivity. Limited data exist on pain and injury prevalence among rectal surgeons. In this epidemiologic study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of physical discomfort among rectal surgeons in Canada and identify potential causative factors.

We distributed a web-based survey to rectal surgeons in Canada between January and October 2022. We included colorectal surgeons, surgical oncologists, and colorectal surgery fellows associated with Canadian university hospitals.

Of the 72 surgeons we contacted, 48 participated (67%). More than 98% reported experiencing physical discomfort or pain during rectal surgery, with more than half experiencing these symptoms weekly. Neck, shoulders, and back were common pain or discomfort locations, whether surgeons were performing open surgery or using a minimally invasive platform. Laparoscopic equipment, headlight, and pelvic retractor use were the most common causes. Many surgeons (54%) sought professional treatment and employed risk-reducing strategies such as intraoperative stretching (48%) or after-work strength training exercises (52%). Satisfaction with pain levels during surgery was uncommon (40%). Multivariable analysis showed advancing age (odds ratio [OR] 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.23) and larger percentage of minimally invasive surgeries (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.28-5.33) as significant predictors of increased discomfort. After-work exercise participation was protective in both open (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.02-0.95) and minimally invasive surgeries (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.37-0.98).

Rectal surgeons in Canada commonly experience pain and injury during surgery, underscoring the need for improved safety measures to preserve their physical health and career longevity.