Surgeon Health and Well-Being Initiative: A Survey of General and Orthopedic Surgery Residents' Reports of Musculoskeletal Pain.

Background Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is a well-known risk among surgeons, resulting from the multifactorial physical demands of the occupation. Because of the demands faced by resident surgeons, many individuals find themselves with sometimes debilitating MSK pain. Although these risks are well documented and there have been proposed solutions, there is little discussion on the role that osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) can play in relief of MSK pain over time in this population. Objective The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence and distribution of MSK pain among general and orthopedic surgery residents at Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF). Based on the results, future work incorporating OMT during surgical residency could be done to address both the physical and psychosocial aspects of their pain. Methodology From April 10, 2024, through June 30, 2024, an observational survey study was conducted among general and orthopedic surgery residents at CCF. An online survey was sent to 164 residents. To maximize the response rate during that time period, three follow-up emails were sent. The survey asked residents: postgraduate year (PGY), gender, age group, whether they have completed a research year, any past injuries, and how often they experienced pain at various anatomical regions. Results A total of 43 of 164 (26.2%) CCF orthopedic and general surgery residents responded to the survey: 20 (46.5%) men and 23 (53.5%) women. The mean age of participants was 30-34 years. The PGY level ranged from 1 to 7, with 16/43 (37.2%) participants having completed a research year. Among the respondents of the online survey, at least one resident reported pain in all regions listed on the survey. The three most common were neck pain in 35/43 (81.3%), lower back pain in 34/43 (79.0%), and upper back pain in 25/43 (58.1%) of participants. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that daily to weekly MSK pain starts in residency as early as PGY 1, with the mean age of residents surveyed being 30-34 years old. This is regardless of past injuries. MSK pain is a serious consequence of the occupational hazards of the surgical field. Our study demonstrates that the neck, lower back, and the upper back are the three most common anatomical regions where CCF general and orthopedic surgery residents experience MSK pain. Prior research focuses on MSK pain throughout a surgeon's career. Additional research is needed to better characterize the cause of MSK pain in surgical residents and to evaluate OMT as a potential treatment intervention for this population.