EMG Response in Forearm and Neck Muscles When Comparing Surgical Techniques.

NCT06978309 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: FHM-2025-4948-IRAS-2
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 9
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Surgeons are performing an increasing number of minimal access procedures because these offer certain advantages including improved recovery times. However, this also results in surgeons operating for longer periods which inevitably increases the already known prevalence of work-related Musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries amongst surgeons. Work-related MSK disorders account for 26 - 47.5% of illnesses and injuries due to overexertion and repetitive use, in professionals with ergonomically challenging jobs. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) is a modern technology that could help mitigate these MSK problems and thereby improve patient care. In comparison to standard laparoscopic surgery (LS), RALS offers steadier wrist movements with a reduced fulcrum effect, thus benefiting the patient. No study has compared the demands of RALS vs. LS on musculoskeletal fatigue (and subsequent injury risk). The investigators need to determine whether a career using RALS is associated with better musculoskeletal health of surgeons than standard LS when performing complex minimally invasive procedures. The study will recruit Surgeons who perform prostate and bowel surgical procedures who have experience using RALS and/or LS. Surgeons will complete a series of validated questionnaires before and after each surgery to subjectively determine musculoskeletal strain/pain and will have body composition quantified. They will be fitted with EMG (to measure muscle fatigue) whilst performing real-life surgery. Analysis of data gathered will be used to show what the short- and long- term musculoskeletal demands are and in turn determine if these are associated with changes in motor control. The researcher's postulated hypothesis is that RALS should have less musculoskeletal effects both short and long term on surgeons, therefore, highlighting the fact that the implementation of RALS should be less controversial, because in the long run, the most expensive objects in the operating room are the personnel.

Conditions

Surgical Fatigue

Keywords

fatigue; Laparoscopic; Surgeon wellbeing; Robotic surgery; EMG

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Acute muscle activation- percentage of forearm maximal voluntary contraction (%) assessed using EMG frequency.

  This outcome measures the immediate impact of RALS and LS on the surgeon's forearm muscles during a single surgical procedure. It will be quantified by assessing the change in electromyography (EMG) frequency and amplitude recorded during clinically important surgical tasks within the surgeons' first surgery of the day. The contributing measures to this primary measure are the maximal voluntary contraction that will be assessed just before the surgery begins, and the average frequency of muscle activation (mV) over the 2 minute data collection period. Muscle activation for RALS and LS will be compared using this measure.

  Intraoperative

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Surgeon musculoskeletal health over the last 12 months (Standardized Nordic Questionnaire)

  Preoperative

• Surgeon physical activity participation status (International Physical Activity Questionnaire

  Preoperative

• Surgeon well-being and quality of life (SF36 Health and Wellbeing Questionnaire)

  Preoperative

• Maximal Voluntary Contraction measured using EMG (mV)

  Intraoperative

• Acute muscle activation- percentage of sternocleidomastoid maximal voluntary contraction (%) assesed using EMG frequency.

  Intraoperative

Study Arms (2)

Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery

Surgeons performing robot assisted laparoscopic surgery.

Other: No Interventions

Laparoscopic Surgery

Surgeons performing manual laparoscopic surgery.

Other: No Interventions

Interventions

No Interventions OTHER

Observational study.

Laparoscopic Surgery; Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy, adult laparoscopic and robot- assisted laparoscopic surgeons.

You may qualify if:

• Either a laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic surgeon.
• Good musculoskeletal health.
• Adult.

You may not qualify if:

• Procedures with major complications (above 50% more time than the average for that surgery).
• Significant co- morbidities that could affect the results of the study. Significant symptoms of musculoskeletal disorder.
• Anything the investigator feels will affect the study's measurements of safety.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lancaster University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Blackburn Royal Teaching Hospital

Blackburn, Lancashire, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Fatigue

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Target Duration: 2 Weeks
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 23, 2025
• First Posted: May 18, 2025
• Study Start: May 6, 2025
• Primary Completion: September 8, 2025
• Study Completion: September 8, 2025
• Last Updated: January 26, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Locations

GB (1)