Analysis of surgeon biometrics during open and robotic radical cystectomy with electromyography and motion capture analysis

PURPOSE: To determine feasibility of measuring surgeon physical stress during both open radical cystectomy (ORC) and robotic radical cystectomy (RRC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One patient underwent ORC, while the other underwent RRC by a single surgeon. The diversion was excluded from this study. Noraxon(®) myoMOTION(™) kinematics sensors were used to quantify the amount of joint and segmental motion of the spine, shoulders, and head. myoMUSCLE(™) EMG sensors were used to measure activation levels, patterns, and fatigue characteristics of key muscle groups. The Prone Static Plank Test (PSPT) and Modified Biering-Sorensen Test (MBST) were used to assess surgeon strength and endurance of core musculature. RESULTS: The surgeries were represented in five stages. During ORC, the percentage of time spent in cervical flexion was 98%, 91.8%, 87.5%, 100%, and 97.1%, respectively. During RRC, 100% of the time was spent in cervical flexion. Activation of key muscle groups was examined across all stages and expressed as a percentage of peak activation. MBST times were both 25 second pre-and post-surgery ORC and 25.1 seconds pre-surgery and 32.4 seconds post-surgery for RRC. PSPT times were 68 second pre-surgery and 48 seconds post-surgery for ORC, and 59 second pre-surgery and 51 seconds post-surgery for RRC. CONCLUSION: We were able to identify meaningful data using kinematic and EMG analysis during ORC and RRC. We were able to identify target muscle groups that will be used to conduct a larger study with multiple surgeons to help determine if there is an ergonomic advantage to RRC over traditional ORC.