BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS APPLIED TO THE EVALUATION OF POSTURE IN LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY

Authors

  • Kostas Gianikellis
  • Conrado Ferrera
  • Juan José Pantrigo

Keywords:

Biomechanics, WRMSDs, laparoscopic surgery, posture, EMG

Abstract

Laparoscopic techniques allow less-invasive treatment of common surgical problems in the field of Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics. Laparoscopic instruments have been reported as being uncomfortable, leading to musculoskeletal disorders (pain, stiffness and numbness) during and after the work, due to the forced posture that surgeons have to adopt for long periods (Berguer, et al. 1999; 2001). These muscular disorders are work related (WRMSDs) because of the remote visualization of the surgical field and the deficient design of the laparoscopic instruments. Even if several studies have been developed to obtain information in this field, there is still lack of research findings concerning the surgical procedures developed in the "real world" of the operating room conditions. The main aim of this study in progress, is to establish objective criteria concerning the design and use of laparoscopic instruments using the Ergonomics methodology. Besides, research findings could support the training process of the surgeons. To this purpose there is a need for developing a feasible methodology to detect the presence of risk factors on the surgeons' health.

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Section

Equipment / Instrumentation