https://athenaeumpub.com/wp-content/uploads/Prevalence-of-Work-related-Musculoskeletal-Disorders-in-Early-Onset-Scoliosis-Surgeons.pdf

Abstract

Background: Surgical treatment of Early Onset Scoliosis (EOS) involves operations with repetitive maneuvers that may put a surgeon at risk for a work-related Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of MSDs that surgeons self-attributed to EOS operations. Methods: Surgeons in an international study group were invited to participate in a 41-question survey and data was analyzed from surgeons with 5 or more years of experience post training. This included demographics, occurrence of an MSD directly attributed to repetitive EOS surgery, MSD anatomic location and treatment type. Results: A total of 60 respondents qualified. Most respondents were male (51/60, 85%), with a mean age of 53 (range 36-78) and a mean of 20 years in practice (range 5-47). They reported a mean of 102 spine surgeries per year (range 12-300). A total of 117 MSDs were reported; the most common being cervical spine (30), lumbar spine (28) and wrist/hand (27). Of the 60 respondents, 49 (82%) reported at least one; 17 (30%) sustained 2 separate MSDs and 18 (30%) sustained 3 or more MSDs. Of those who reported at least one MSD, 29 respondents (59%) underwent treatment; the most common being injection (12/49, 25%), physical or occupational therapy (6/49, 12%) and surgery (6/49, 12%). There was a significant relationship between age and the prevalence of MSDs in the shoulder or rotator cuff region (r=0.38; p=0.002). Conclusion: In a cohort of 60 EOS surgeons, more than 80% have sustained at least 1 MSD they self-attributed to EOS surgery, with the most frequent conditions affecting the cervical and lumbar spine and 58% reported >1 condition. Six participants (10%) underwent surgical treatment for an MSD they directly attributed to EOS surgery.