The Balancing Act: Ergonomic Challenges for Pregnant Microvascular Surgeons in the Operating Room

Area of Science:

• Surgical ergonomics
• Occupational health in medicine

Background:

• Microvascular surgery demands high precision and sustained awkward postures.
• Pregnancy imposes significant physiological changes affecting a surgeon's physical capacity and comfort.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively assess and compare ergonomic challenges in microvascular surgeons during late pregnancy versus postpartum.
• To identify specific high-risk postures and musculoskeletal strain using motion analysis.

Main Methods:

• Five microvascular surgeons were evaluated at 36-37 weeks gestation and postpartum.
• Motion analysis software (Kinetica Labs) assessed joint angles, deviations, and posture duration.
• Ergonomic risk was quantified using Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) criteria.

Main Results:

• Surgeons spent significantly more time in high-risk postures during the third trimester compared to postpartum.
• The elbow (59% vs. 20%), neck (50% vs. 20%), and knee (26% vs. 5%) showed the most pronounced increases in unsafe positioning.

Conclusions:

• Late pregnancy introduces distinct, measurable ergonomic challenges for microvascular surgeons.
• Increased time in hazardous postures necessitates tailored ergonomic solutions and institutional support to safeguard surgeon well-being and surgical performance.