INITIAL EVALUATION OF A REAL-TIME ERGONOMIC POSTURE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM IN LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY

Abstract

Abstract Introduction The objective of this study is to perform an initial evaluation of a system for assessment and visual feedback of the surgeon's posture during laparoscopic practice. Methods In order to monitor the surgeon's posture, we used the XSens motion tracking system. The neck, shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints were analyzed during laparoscopic practice. A visual feedback method was designed using Unity3D which indicates in real time if any of the analyzed joints suffers from an inadequate posture, allowing for its possible correction. The system was evaluated with a group of seven novice laparoscopic surgeons who performed several repetitions of two basic training tasks (eye-hand coordination and transfer). The participants were randomly organized into group A (4 subjects), who received visual feedback, and group B (3 subjects), as a control group. Results Regarding the coordination task, group A exhibited lower ergonomically inappropriate posture time for the left shoulder and elbow, being significant for the left shoulder posture. Similarly, this group showed a positive evolution during the training process for the different joints. Regarding the transfer task, both groups presented a positive evolution. Conclusions Preliminary results show that the presented method allows novice surgeons to improve their posture during laparoscopic practice. The use of the non-dominant hand and the complexity of the task seem to be conditioning aspects in the surgeon's ergonomics.