Spine surgeons have a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders when compared with the general population, according to a study published in Spine.
Researchers extracted data from a survey given to members of the Scoliosis Research Society about physical discomfort, with 561 surgeons responding. The average respondent was 54 years old, with a mean annual caseload of 147. Of those cases, 62 on average were spinal deformity cases and a total of 84 percent of the respondents had an active surgical practice.
The most common self-reported diagnoses included:
• 38 percent neck pain/strain/spasms
• 31 percent lumbar disc herniation or radiculopathy
• 28 percent cervical disc herniation or radiculopathy
• 24 percent rotator cuff disease
In the cases where surgeons reported lumbar disc disease, 7.1 percent underwent surgery. An additional 4.6 percent underwent surgery for cervical disc disease. The number of deformity cases surgeons performed correlated with increased wrist and hand pain.
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The most common self-reported diagnoses included:
• 38 percent neck pain/strain/spasms
• 31 percent lumbar disc herniation or radiculopathy
• 28 percent cervical disc herniation or radiculopathy
• 24 percent rotator cuff disease
In the cases where surgeons reported lumbar disc disease, 7.1 percent underwent surgery. An additional 4.6 percent underwent surgery for cervical disc disease. The number of deformity cases surgeons performed correlated with increased wrist and hand pain.
Related Articles on Spine Surgeons:
UC Davis Researchers to Inject Spine Cells for Back Pain Relief
10 Spine and Neurosurgeon Editors for Professional Publications
Where Spine Research is Headed: 5 Points From Dr. Frank Phillips