Work-related musculoskeletal problems were widespread among European surgeons
The abstract summarizes how common these disorders were and how prevalence varied with personal and national characteristics.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders were common in the reviewed studies of European surgeons, particularly in the lower back and neck. Prevalence also varied with age, experience and country-level indicators. These patterns describe how widespread the disorders were and which characteristics accompanied them; they do not show that altering any particular indicator would prevent a surgeon's symptoms.
The abstract does not state whether prevalence covers current symptoms or a longer recall period. National-level associations cannot explain why an individual surgeon developed a disorder, and the review does not test prevention strategies.
What researchers found
Proportion with work-related musculoskeletal disorders
Pooled estimate for European surgeons in included studies; no comparison group. The period covered by the prevalence measure was not reported.
Patterns across surgeons
Older, more experienced surgeons had higher prevalence in several body areas. Countries with more surgeries per surgeon also had higher overall and lower-back prevalence, while higher human development correlated with less prevalent lower-back disorders.
Questions about prevention
The authors call for further research on ergonomics and how surgical work is organized. This review measures prevalence and associations; it does not test whether a particular workplace program reduces these disorders.
The original publication
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevalence Among European Surgeons: Effect of Demographic, Economic, and Quality-of-Life Indicators.
Gorce P, Jacquier-Bret J
Int J Environ Res Public Health · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41899776
- Record checked
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