Neck Posturing in Surgeons During Microsurgery Procedures Using Upright Go 2 Device

Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Neck Pain Musculoskeletal

Treatments: Device: Real-time feedback through the device. Bio-feedback signals will be given once deviated from a neutral posture for >1 minute. Response of surgeons to bio-feedback signals will be recorded

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06167525

RCSI sponsorship ref: 23-161

Details and patient eligibility

About

Consultant and senior registrars performing microsurgery will be invited to participate in this Study. The study will take place at single site (Beaumont Hospital). A questionnaire to collect demographic information (age, height, sex, year of training, prior neck trauma or know neck issues) will be given to the consented surgeons. Additionally, surgery characteristics will be recorded (procedure, surgeon role (i.e lead or assisting), table height, frequency of adjustment of table height, and use of sitting or step stool, headlight, and/or loupes for >50% of the procedure).

A postural training device, Upright Go 2 will be positioned at the spinous process of the cervical vertebrae of each surgeon and used to measure neck positions during microsurgical procedures. The device will be calibrated to an ideal neutral cervical spine position, so that excessive flexion and extension of the neck can be recorded.

The device contains built-in sensors that provide bio-feedback in the form of gentle vibrations if posture has deviated from neutral position.

During the first stage of the study the device will be set to record cervical spine positioning without bio-feedback signals. This will be used to record duration of time surgeons held maladaptation postures.

The second stage will involve real-time feedback through the device. For surgeons who consent, bio-feedback signals will be given once deviated from a neutral posture for >1 minute. Response of surgeons to bio-feedback signals will also be recorded.

The Neck Disability index score will be used to assess for neck pain and the functional implications in relation to reported neck pain. This will be completed following study completion.

Enrollment: 15 estimated patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Plastic and reconstructive surgeons performing microsurgery
• Consultants, Registrars, and Senior House Officers with no prior cervical spine surgery or cervical degeneration

Exclusion criteria

• Surgeons not performing microsurgery on a regular basis (at least once a month)
• Plastic and reconstructive surgery trainees with <1 years experience in microsurgery.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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15 participants in 1 patient group

Neck posture monitoring device without feedback option

Other group

Description:

Real-time feedback through the device. For surgeons who consent, bio-feedback signals will be given once deviated from a neutral posture for \>1 minute.

Treatment:

Device: Real-time feedback through the device. Bio-feedback signals will be given once deviated from a neutral posture for >1 minute. Response of surgeons to bio-feedback signals will be recorded