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Objective:

This prospective experimental study evaluates the effectiveness of micropauses (MPs) to prevent muscular fatigue and its deleterious effect on surgeons during prolonged surgical procedures.

Background:

Operating is a hazard for surgeon's health. Beyond acute injuries and blood-borne infections, back and neck pain is a poorly recognized factor causing chronic ailment in more than half the surgeons surveyed. MP, a 20-second break every 20 minutes, is an accepted strategy used widely in the workplace.

Methods:

We designed a crossover experimental study. Sixteen surgeons were tested 3 times: once in a control situation before any surgery (CTL) and twice after a prolonged, reproducible operation (at least 2 hours), 1 of these with formal MP (WMP) the other without (WOMP). Muscular fatigue was tested by holding a 2.5-kg weight as long as possible with a stretched arm. Accuracy was evaluated with a …