Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.
Issue link: http://outpatientsurgery.uberflip.com/i/703764
in the OR and acceptance among surgeons, but improved work practices such as hands-free and neutral-zone passing would also reduce errors, says Dr. Foley. Our survey shows scalpels and needles were the leading cause of harm, but only about one-fourth of respondents say their surgi- cal teams always use neutral zones to pass sharps in the OR, and just 12% say their surgeons always use safety sharps. Laparoscopic surgery presents unique ergonomic challenges. A sur- geon's arm, wrist and shoulder are relatively constrained in their posi- tions and have limited degrees of freedom. Surgeons must apply force in a single direction without being able to adjust their positioning, which leads to repetitive motion injury. In addition, points out Dr. Seagull, a per- fect instrument handle used in an awkward posture will be just as debili- tating as a terrible instrument handle used with perfect posture. "Each of those aspects have to be addressed independently," he says. He says there are logistical barriers to solving the issue. Investing in tools with grips designed for hands of various sizes might be impossi- ble for budget-conscious facilities. Instead, remind surgeons that seemingly minor ergonomic adjustments such as placing surgical monitors at eye level and at the head of the table can substantially lower their injury risk. You can also invest in robotic technology, which is getting smaller and more affordable. Dr. Seagull said robotic arms do away with much of the ergonomic woes caused by the han- dling of minimally invasive instruments. Periodic breaks can help, too. Dr. Seagull suggests individual members of the surgical team step away from the table at a time they deem appro- priate to run through a series of stress-reducing stretches. Fatigue mats aren't a clear-cut solution to improving ergonomics, but it makes sense that they should add to the comfort of surgical team mem- bers who stand for hours on end during a busy day in the OR. Still, only 6% of respondents say their surgical team members always stand on J U L Y 2 0 1 6 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 1 0 9