The medical community recently has focused a great deal of attention on improving patient safety, and appropriately so. However, comparatively little consideration has been given to hazards that affect surgeons and surgical team members in the operating room, and there is a dearth of related information that is specific to neurosurgery. Even discussion of the impact of Bovie smoke, a commonplace element in neurosurgery since Cushing’s day, is virtually nonexistent in neurosurgical literature.
Authors in this issue of AANS Neurosurgeon address several hazards to personal safety in the operating room. The toxicity of Bovie smoke, radiation exposure from fluoroscopy, blood-borne pathogens, and OR noise, principally from the drill, are among the physical hazards discussed. A more insidious hazard, namely the influence of stress and burnout on neurosurgeons and their careers, also is explored.
Several related topics—repetitive stress injuries such as awkward positioning while performing particular procedures, creating an ergonomic operating room and various policies governing the return to work following work-related injury or illness—are ripe for exploration in future issues.
While no one plans to contract hepatitis from a needlestick or to otherwise suffer from a work-related injury or illness, insurance for disability can provide a cushion when the unexpected happens. See “While You Are Able: Consider All Options in Disability Insurance,” article ID 38197, using the advanced search at www.aansneurosurgeon.org.