Wearables could help surgeons maintain healthy posture during lengthy procedures

Editor's Note

Wearable technology is a useful means of mitigating the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in surgeons by providing biofeedback on posture during lengthy operations, according to a recent study in Journal of Nuerosurgery: Spine.

In an April 22 report, AZO Sensors details how researchers from Baylor College of Medicine collaborated with the University of Arizona to assess the feasibility of using wearables to enhance awareness of and reduce tension caused by maintaining static postures during extended spine and cranial procedures. Ten participating neurosurgeons each received two wearable sensors, one fastened to the upper back and one to the head, to record average time spent in extended, neutral, and flexed-static postures. The surgeons remained in a static posture for more than half of active surgical time—time exceeding the 30-minute minimum for stretch breaks recommended by the American College of Surgeons.

“The potential impact and implications of our findings are significant for surgical practice and training,” said corresponding author Dr. Bijan Najafi, professor at Baylor’s Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery. “Using wearable technology to monitor and analyze surgeons' posture offers a proactive approach to preventing the onset of musculoskeletal disorders such as back and neck pain. This could lead to improved surgeon health and well-being, enhanced performance, and potentially extended career longevity. Additionally, personalized training programs derived from wearable data could revolutionize surgical education, equipping novice surgeons with the tools to adopt optimal postural habits from the outset of their careers.”