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Ergonomic Challenges for Surgeons; The Problem and Solutions

NCT06938958 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 30

Last updated 2025-04-22

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are highly prevalent among surgeons. Despite growing awareness, there remains a lack of detailed data on the specific postures that contribute to ergonomic risk, particularly within General Surgery. This study aims to characterise postures encountered during open, laparoscopic, and robotic gastrointestinal procedures using wearable sensor technology and video analysis, to inform future ergonomic interventions and training.

A single-centre, prospective observational study of 30 surgical cases will be conducted at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. Participating surgeons will wear inertial measurement units (IMUs) to record real-time body segment position data whilst performing live surgery. A biomechanical model will then be used to calculate joint angles and whole body posture. Video recordings will be synchronised with IMU data to map posture to surgical tasks. Static and dynamic postures will be analysed using standard ergonomic assessment tools. Alternative tools tailored to surgery will be assessed and proposed. Surgeons will complete questionnaires pre- and post-operatively to report musculoskeletal symptoms. Outcomes will compare ergonomic risk across surgical techniques, identify high-risk procedural steps, and assess the acceptability of wearable technologies in the operating theatre. The data generated will also be used to evaluate, train or refine artificially intelligent camera-based pose estimation models for the operating theatre environment in order to make future ergonomics research and assessment more accessible.

Conditions

  • Musculoskeletal Strain
  • Ergonomics
  • Posture

Interventions

OTHER

Video and Motion Analysis

1. Measurements of joint angle, body segment position, static and dynamic postures and posture duration. 2. Video of Surgeon and Procedure.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Plymouth

    collaborator OTHER

  • University Hospital Plymouth NHS Trust

    lead OTHER

Eligibility

Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-06-01
Primary Completion
2025-12-31
Completion
2026-08-31

Countries

  • United Kingdom

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06938958 on ClinicalTrials.gov