surgeons with essential tremor?

[scrubswannabe]

I was just wondering if there were surgeons that had essential tremor or whether it was possible or made sense to go into surgery or one of its subspecialties if one had essential tremor. I mean...everyone wants their surgeon to have a completely balanced hand...so should I consider another residency instead? Thanks

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[njbmd]

I was just wondering if there were surgeons that had essential tremor or whether it was possible or made sense to go into surgery or one of its subspecialties if one had essential tremor. I mean...everyone wants their surgeon to have a completely balanced hand...so should I consider another residency instead? Thanks

Hi there,
The effect of your essential tremor will depend largely on how much it affects your fine motor skills. I am sure that you know this already. There are plenty of surgeons who have an essential tremor whose work is not affected. On the other hand, if you anticipate doing something that requires fine motor skills like neurosurgery,(requires operating under a scope) your tremor may not allow you to pursue this residency.

This being said, there are many fundamental surgical skills that are performed by surgeons everyday that do not require fine motor movements (knot tying, suturing gross structures etc, laparoscopic procedures).

If you are a medical student, check with a couple of the general surgery residents or faculty at your medical school. They may be evaluate your fine motor skills and give you an objective opinion.

I have one attending who is a Duke-trained vascular surgeon who was involved in an airplane crash that left him with major burns and no distal phalangeal structures on either hand. He is one of the finest surgeons that I have ever worked with (performs every vascular access procedure and neck surgery). If he can learn to operate without portions of both hands, you may be able to compenstate for your essential tremor.

Good luck!
njbmd 🙂

 

[scrubswannabe]

thanks a lot njbmd

what if i was interested in orthopedic surgery? would it be a big deal?

 

[njbmd]

thanks a lot njbmd

what if i was interested in orthopedic surgery? would it be a big deal?

Hi there,
You tremor, again depending on how severe, is probably not as much of an issue in orthopedic surgery. Spend some time with some of the ortho residents and see what they have to say.

Hang tough!
njbmd 🙂

 

[factoid]

hey there

i have a pretty bad tremor, usually gets worse with skin closures (subcuticulars) and other really fine needlework stuff, such as vascular anastamoses. however, i've gotten through the year with A's from all of my rotations. I guess everyone assumes somehow you'll get over the tremor and really in most cases it hasn't caused me much trouble (other than major embarrassment..sure gives the nurses and scrub techs something to talk about). plus, there are meds to treat ET, though I haven't done that myself. propranolol, etc.

don't change your career choice based on it, unless you can't hold a cup of water without spilling it all over yourself.