Is Rhinoplasty Surgery a Risk Factor for Low Back Pain among Otorhinolaryngologists?

Overview

The study asked whether performing rhinoplasty is associated with low back pain among surgeons. A questionnaire written by the researchers was completed by volunteer otorhinolaryngologists attending the 22nd International Rhinocamp Congress. It covered demographics, whether they performed septorhinoplasty and for how many years, whether they had lumbar pain or discomfort, whether they had been hospitalized or operated on for it, the frequency and intensity of the pain, and any back abnormalities found on magnetic resonance imaging.

Sections of note

• Questionnaire survey of 110 otorhinolaryngologists at one congress.
• Forty one respondents, 37.3 percent, were women and 69, 62.7 percent, were men.
• Eighty seven, 79.1 percent, performed rhinoplasty surgery.
• Seventy six respondents, 69.1 percent, reported low back pain overall.
• Low back pain was reported by 72.4 percent of those performing rhinoplasty, 63 doctors, and 56.5 percent of those who did not, 13 doctors.
• The association between low back pain and performing rhinoplasty was statistically significant, chi squared 4.151, P equals 0.042.
• Complaints were also affected by the number of years performing rhinoplasty, P equals 0.001.

What it means for a patient

• This concerns surgeon health, not patient outcomes.
• Longer careers performing rhinoplasty were associated with more back complaints.
• The survey was voluntary and taken at a rhinoplasty focused congress, so respondents are not a random sample of surgeons.
• Self reported pain in a cross sectional survey cannot show that operating causes back problems.

Why this paper matters

Rhinoplasty involves prolonged static posture over a small operative field, and occupational injury among surgeons is a recognized cause of shortened careers. This survey puts a number on how common back pain is in this group. It does not identify which postures or equipment are responsible.

Terms

• Otorhinolaryngologist: an ear, nose and throat surgeon.
• Septorhinoplasty: surgery combining reshaping of the nose with correction of the septum.
• Lumbar region: the lower back.
• Cross sectional survey: a snapshot of a group at one point in time, which cannot prove cause.
• Chi squared test: a statistical test of whether two categories are associated.