Comparing the Ergonomic Risk Factors Threating Neurosurgeons during Craniotomy Surgery in Standing and Sitting Positions

During craniotomy surgery, because of the prolonged action and maintaining a fixed position, neurosurgeons, in both the sitting and standing positions, face various musculoskeletal problems in the absence of proper position. Since, no study using scientific methods was done on the neurosurgeons during craniotomy surgery, this study aimed to compare the ergonomic risk factors threating neurosurgeons during this surgery in both standing and sitting positions. In a cross sectional study, 20 standing and 20 sitting positions of neurosurgeons during craniotomy surgery were captured and the risks of exposure to musculoskeletal disorders was calculated and determined using quick exposure check (QEC) and rapid entire body assessment (REBA) scores in the three levels of mild, moderate and sever. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software. The total percent of the mean risk of musculoskeletal disorders in the standing and sitting positions was 36.39 ± 10.06 and 31.60 ± 6.70 percent, respectively, and there was no statistically difference between the two positions (P = 0.090). In addition, the exposure level in REBA score in the two positions of standing and sitting was 6.00 ± 1.52 and 3.63 ± 0.90, respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). During craniotomy surgery, neurosurgeons either in standing or in sitting position have moderate exposure levels in different areas of the body such as the shoulders/arm, wrist/hand and neck and the risk is higher in standing position. Thus, we recommend more studies be conducted with larger sample sizes. In addition, the required equipment to reduce the risk of the underlying disorders must be provided. Knowledge of the practitioners must be improved via retraining courses, gatherings and meetings, too.