Effect of structured training in improving the ergonomic stress in laparoscopic surgery among general surgery residents

Background Minimal access surgery has fast become the standard of care for many operative procedures, but is associated with lot of ergonomic stress to the surgeons performing these procedures, which may result in reduction in surgeon’s performance and work capacity. In this study, we evaluated the impact of structured training program in improving the ergonomic stress in trainee laparoscopic surgeons. Methods Laparoscopic surgeons were divided in 2 groups: trainee surgeons (ten) and expert surgeons (three). Baseline surface electromyography (sEMG) data were collected from bilateral deltoid, biceps brachii, forearm extensors, and pronator teres during a predefined suturing task on Tuebingen trainer with integrated porcine organs in both the groups. Trainee surgeons underwent 20 h of laparoscopic intra-corporeal suturing training and surface electromyography data were recorded at the end of training again and compared with baseline. Results Experts were found to have lower muscle activation ( p