Damaging Noise Levels Are Seen in Arthroscopic Surgery.

PURPOSE: To determine whether orthopaedic surgeons performing arthroscopic shoulder, hip, and knee surgeries are exposed to damaging noise levels, while also comparing noise levels between these different arthroscopic procedures and further analyzing common arthroscopic knee procedures such as meniscectomy and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted using prospectively collected intraoperative audio measurements during arthroscopic procedures from March 2021 to February 2023. Metrics included the maximum decibel (dB) level (MDL), time-weighted average (TWA), dose, and projected dose. The MDL is the greatest level of noise during each case, TWA is the average dB level over an 8-hour period, dose is the percentage of allowable daily noise, and projected dose extrapolates exposure over 8 hours.

RESULTS

Out of 124 recordings (13 baseline, 111 procedural-10 hip, 40 shoulder, and 61 knee), MDL exceeded >85 dB for all procedures, highest for shoulder procedures (117.5 dB, P < .001). The TWA remained <85 dB for all procedures, which was higher for hip procedures at 62.5 dB (P = .329).

CONCLUSIONS

While TWA levels stay below high-risk thresholds, MDL frequently surpasses 85 dB, indicating potential harmful exposure. Hip arthroscopy trended higher noise levels compared with shoulder and knee arthroscopy.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cumulative exposure to the increased noise during arthroscopic procedures put high volume arthroscopic surgeons at risk for noise-induced hearing loss.