Surgeons’ health risk

THE risks of surgery to patients are well known – but it turns out that the operating theatre also presents considerable hazards for the surgeons.

Those hunched over the operating table are likely to wind up with more painful back, neck, shoulder, arm and hand problems than coal miners or labourers, a study has found.

It said repetitive movements, awkward postures and long hoursare creating “an impending epidemic” of musculoskeletal disorders for surgeons.