These Studies Assess Surgeons' Physical and Ergonomic Workloads. Study 1 Compares Laparoscopic vs. Hugo RAS Robotic Approaches for Rectal Resection. Study 2 Compares Hugo RAS vs. Da Vinci Xi for Prostatectomy. Both Track Physiological Stress, Surgical Strain Phases, and Exerted Force.
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: surgical approach.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Ergonomics. Basic parameters: 40 years — 55 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
The ERGOROB Project (ERGOnomics in Surgical ROBotics)
Overview
The ERGOROB (ERGOnomics in surgical ROBotics) study is an observational research project focused on the physical well-being of surgeons.Why is this study important?Surgeons perform complex, lengthy procedures that can lead to severe physical strain, awkward postures, and repetitive movements.This physical burden often causes musculoskeletal disorders, which can negatively impact a doctor's health and potentially shorten their career.By objectively measuring these physical demands, researchers aim to improve the design of surgical systems and training protocols.Preserving a surgeon's health and expertise ultimately enhances the quality of care provided to patients.What exactly is being studied?The research is divided into two comparative areas:Study 1: Compares the physical strain on doctors performing bowel surgery (Low Anterior Resection of the Rectum) using standard "keyhole" (laparoscopic) methods versus a robotic-assisted system called the Hugo RAS.Study 2: Compares the physical demands of using two different robotic surgical platforms (the Hugo RAS and the Da Vinci Xi) during prostate surgery (Radical Prostatectomy).What does this mean for patients?In this specific study, the surgeons are the subjects being evaluated, not the patients.Patients receive their standard, planned surgical treatment without any alterations.During the operation, the participating surgeon will wear specialized wireless equipment, including a 3D motion capture suit, muscle activity sensors, and sensorized gloves to measure hand force.The procedure is also video recorded to analyze the surgeon's movements and workflow.All wearable equipment has been thoroughly pre-tested in a simulated environment to guarantee it does not interfere with the surgeon's dexterity or comfort while operating.
Interventions
- Other surgical approach
This study evaluates the ergonomic impact of different surgical platforms on operating surgeons. The "interventions" are the surgical systems used during standard procedures:Study 1: Compares the standard laparoscopic approach (control) versus the Medtronic Hugo™ RAS robotic system during Low Anterior Resection of the Rectum.Study 2: Directly compares the Medtronic Hugo™ RAS system versus the Intuitive da Vinci® Xi System during Radical Prostatectomy.Distinguishing Feature: Unlike trials focused
Primary outcome measures
- Surgeon Muscle Activity (Root Mean Square) [Time frame: Intraoperatively]
- Surgeon Posture and Upper Limb Kinematics [Time frame: Continuously during each of the 10 surgical procedures per participating surgeon (real-time acquisition)]
- Surgeon Hand and Finger Manipulation Forces [Time frame: Continuously during each of the 10 surgical procedures per participating urological surgeon (real-time acquisition)]
- Surgeon Muscle Fatigue (Median Frequency) [Time frame: Intraoperatively]
- Surgeon Muscle Strain (Sustained Activation) [Time frame: Intraoperatively]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Must be an experienced general surgeon specializing in colorectal surgery (Study 1) OR an experienced urological surgeon (Study 2).
- Age between 40 and 55 years for colorectal surgeons, or between 40 and 50 years for urological surgeons.
- For Study 1: Proficient in performing Low Anterior Resection of the Rectum using both standard laparoscopic techniques and the Hugo RAS robotic system, with over 30 robotic and laparoscopic procedures completed.
- For Study 2: Expertise in robotic-assisted Radical Prostatectomy using both the Hugo RAS and Da Vinci Xi systems, with over 20 radical prostatectomies performed on both platforms.
- Willingness to undergo extensive data collection during surgical procedures.
- Provide written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
\- None.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Non-randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Publications
- Burdorf A, Naaktgeboren B, de Groot HC. Occupational risk factors for low back pain among sedentary workers. J Occup Med. 1993 Dec;35(12):1213-20. PMID 8113925
- Aghilinejad M, Ehsani AA, Talebi A, Koohpayehzadeh J, Dehghan N. Ergonomic risk factors and musculoskeletal symptoms in surgeons with three types of surgery: Open, laparoscopic, and microsurgery. Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2016 Dec 28;30:467. eCollection 2016. PMID 28491842
- Epstein S, Sparer EH, Tran BN, Ruan QZ, Dennerlein JT, Singhal D, Lee BT. Prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Surgeons and Interventionalists: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Surg. 2018 Feb 21;153(2):e174947. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2017.4947. Epub 2018 Feb 21. PMID 29282463
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07479121 · ERGOROB