Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Practicing Plastic Surgeons in India: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) are a less discussed entity in the medical profession, with surgical specialties being more prone to them. Little is known about these types of injuries in plastic surgeons specifically. Data on WRMDs among Indian plastic surgeons are lacking. The goals of this study were to evaluate the prevalence, nature, particular contributory causal factors and behaviors, and potential remedies of these musculoskeletal injuries among plastic surgeons in India.

An online voluntary survey was conducted among plastic surgeons in India, collecting their demographics, workload characteristics, musculoskeletal issues, causal factors, and corrective measures, taken using Google Forms. Data were extracted into an MS Excel spreadsheet and analyzed. The prevalence of WRMDs was calculated and the predictors were evaluated with a univariate analysis.

Thirty-three percent of 297 respondents had work-related musculoskeletal injuries or disorders, with the majority experiencing pain (82%), with the neck being the most common site (61%); this was followed by stiffness (61%) and fatigue (52%). The most common causative factors were sustained posture (81%), awkward posture (72%), and inadequate breaks (34%). Age ( p  = 0.041) and average operative hours per week ( p  = 0.036) were found to be statistically significant ( p  < 0.05). The corrective measures cited were stretching exercises, core-strengthening exercises, maintaining proper posture, taking frequent breaks, and yoga.

Plastic surgeons are at high risk of WRMDs, with a significant prevalence in India. Albeit plastic surgeons in India face a higher case load, implementation of ergonomic principles can help in reducing the incidence of these disorders and in preventing the severity of sequelae.