Lower Back, Neck, and Left Thumb Injuries Most Common Types of Injuries Among Colonoscopists
Douglas K. Rex, MD, MASGE, reviewing Al-Rifaie A, et al. Endosc Int Open 2021 Jan 1.
In a survey of primarily UK endoscopists (72% of all respondents) that included endoscopists from 45 countries and had an overall 20.2% response rate, the prevalence rates of injuries were 36.5% for the lower back, 35.2% for the neck, and 33.9% for the left thumb. Overall, 80% of colonoscopists reported some injury, though only 35.4% claimed the injury was definitely related to colonoscopy. Of those who believed injuries were definitely or potentially related to colonoscopy, about 6% needed time off from performing colonoscopy for recovery.
COMMENTOne flaw in surveys of endoscopists about work-related injuries is a failure to include control groups. This is especially important for back and neck pain, which, together, has a prevalence of about one-third in the general adult population of Western countries. The most common injury that appears specifically related to colonoscopy is left thumb injury (De Quervain’s tendonitis), which is usually associated with suboptimal ergonomics.
Note to readers: At the time we reviewed this paper, its publisher noted that it was not in final form and that subsequent changes might be made.
CITATION(S)
Al-Rifaie A, Gariballa M, Ghodeif A, Hodge S, Thoufeeq M, Donnelly M. Colonoscopy-related injury among colonoscopists: an international survey. Endosc Int Open 2021;9:E102-E109. (https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1311-0561)
