Mathews Journal of Surgery

2575-9531

Previous Issues Volume 8, Issue 2 - 2025

Numbing Thumb of Laparoscopic Surgeon: Report of Own Experience and Literature Review

Bharat Mani Banjade1,*, Lok Bahadur Kathayat2, Prakriti Kunwar3, Anup Shrestha4, Nabin Pokhrel5

1General Surgery, ADH. Atoll Hospital, Ministry of Health, Maldives

2General Surgery, James Paget University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Great Yarmouth, GBR

3Department of Anesthesiology, Kathmandu Medical College Private Limited, Kathmandu, Nepal

4General Surgery, Charak Memorial Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal

5Lecturer, General Surgery, Universal College of Medical Sciences, Rupandehi, Nepal

*Corresponding Author: Bharat Mani Banjade, General Surgery, ADH. Atoll Hospital, Ministry of Health, Maldives, Phone: +960 9786297, ORCID: 0000-0002-2849-6584, E-mail: [email protected]

Received Date: April 14, 2025

Published Date: August 21, 2025

Citation: Banjade BM, et al. (2025). Numbing Thumb of Laparoscopic Surgeon: Report of Own Experience and Literature Review. Mathews J Surg. 8(2):39.

Copyrights: Banjade BM, et al. © (2025).

ABSTRACT

Background: In this era of minimal invasive surgery, laparoscopy (key hole) is more frequently offered as the preferred approach. It has many advantages to the patient: for example, shorter hospital stay, less painful and early recovery. If laparoscopic instruments are not handled properly especially during difficult dissection and prolonged surgery, it may affect the health of the operating surgeon itself. One of such hazard is superficial nerve damage or neurapraxia. Case Report: Recently author experienced neurapraxia following repeated and prolonged laparoscopic surgery on his non-dominant thumb. It was managed conservatively with rest (abstinence) and watchful waiting. Thorough literature review and a small survey among other fellow surgeons revealed similar experience.  Its causes, prevention and the management are discussed here with. Conclusion: Neurapraxia as a hazard in handling laparoscopic instruments seems under reported due to its benign and self-limiting course. Some modification in laparoscopic devices and knowledge of ergonomics can prevent such cases.

Keywords: Ergonomics, Hazards of Laparoscopic Instruments, Laparoscopic Surgery, Neurapraxia, Surgeon’s Thumb.


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