Background: Ensuring ergonomic posture and safety for surgeons is key to preventing work-related injuries and promoting sustained practice. We evaluated ergonomic aspects of Anatomic Endoscopic Enucleation of the Prostate (AEEP) and its relation to musculoskeletal injuries.
Method: A two-month online survey involving 119 Endourological Society members provided an in-depth analysis of AEEP practices and their musculoskeletal impacts.
Results: The sample experienced general (65.5%), back (32.8%), neck (35.3%) and shoulder (37%) pain. Female AEEP surgeons reported greater back pain. Experience and age were inversely related to MSK injuries, and operative times over 2 h increased back pain. AEEP procedures predominantly involved sitting (86%) on backless stools (58%), with most surgeons wearing protective eyewear (75.6%) and using large resectoscopes (76.5%). Monitors were usually above eye-level (57%) and beyond 1 m (68.9%).
Conclusion: Musculoskeletal complaints are prevalent among AEEP endourologists. More awareness and further studies on risk factors are necessary to limit work-related injuries in urology.
Keywords: Enucleation; Ergonomics; HoLEP; Hypertrophy; Operative; Prostate; Urologist.
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