Surgeons

[aroen]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I have always wondered, how steady does a surgeon's hand need to be (general surgeon) and how do programs test to see if one has a steady hand?

 

[smq123]

I have always wondered, how steady does a surgeon's hand need to be (general surgeon) and how do programs test to see if one has a steady hand?

- As long as you don't have a tremor that is so bad that it interferes with your activities of daily living (i.e. the tremor is so bad that it makes it hard to write, makes it hard to use a computer mouse, makes it hard to use a dinner knife, etc.), you should be fine. This isn't microsurgery on rats or anything.

- Programs DON'T test to see if you have steady hands.

 

[Crazyday]

And if you do have a slightly bad tremor, there are medications you can take to temporarily stop tremors for surgeries, from my research on it.

 

[xnfs93hy]

And if you do have a slightly bad tremor, there are medications you can take to temporarily stop tremors for surgeries, from my research on it.

I have epilepsy and used to have seizures. I do not anymore but I do have a slight tremor. I am really glad that I am not alone (even though you never actually said you have a tremor or not). This is what I have been hearing. I hear that there are drugs that you can take that will stop your hands from shaking. Honestly, unless your hands are constantly shaking, I doubt you will have trouble performing surgery.

I would like to hear more about these "drugs" that temporarily relieve you of tremor.

 

[xnfs93hy]

- As long as you don't have a tremor that is so bad that it interferes with your activities of daily living (i.e. the tremor is so bad that it makes it hard to write, makes it hard to use a computer mouse, makes it hard to use a dinner knife, etc.), you should be fine. This isn't microsurgery on rats or anything.

- Programs DON'T test to see if you have steady hands.

Really? That is...odd. Heh. I believe it though.

 

[smq123]

Really? That is...odd. Heh. I believe it though.

I think there was a scene on the TV show ER a number of years ago where Carter had to tie knots while at a surgery residency interview.

They don't do that in real life, though.

Your residents and attendings will notice if you have a very debilitating tremor while you are on your surgery rotation. They can advise you better in terms of how that tremor will affect your ability as a surgeon. But it's not up to residency programs to weed you out based on your technical ability during the actual interview.

 

[aroen]

my hands never really shake and when they do its normally less than 1/2mm, so it seems like that is fine, right?

 

[smq123]

my hands never really shake and when they do its normally less than 1/2mm, so it seems like that is fine, right?

It is really much, much, much too early to be worrying about this.

- You may not want to be a doctor after you finish college.
- You may not get into medical school. 🙂( Sad, but true.)
- You may not like your surgery rotation.
- You may like your peds/psych/family med/internal med rotation more.
- Your hand tremor may get worse over time.

In any case, I wouldn't worry too much about it. You can figure out how it will affect your surgical ability (if you even want to be a surgeon 7 years from now) later. 🙂

 

[gabeybaby]

I think there was a scene on the TV show ER a number of years ago where Carter had to tie knots while at a surgery residency interview.

They don't do that in real life, though.

Your residents and attendings will notice if you have a very debilitating tremor while you are on your surgery rotation. They can advise you better in terms of how that tremor will affect your ability as a surgeon. But it's not up to residency programs to weed you out based on your technical ability during the actual interview.

and on grey's anatomy with burke's hand

...the false impression that medical television shows teach us

 

[gabeybaby]

Haha pre-meds believe anything they see on tv, you're so gullible! Isn't there an exam where surgery resident wannabees have to show how horrible they are to their peers? Or maybe a psch test to see how narcissistic you are.

now now...🙄

 

[xnfs93hy]

my hands never really shake and when they do its normally less than 1/2mm, so it seems like that is fine, right?

Sorry for hijacking your thread dude. Yes, you will be fine, my tremor is worse than that (not by too much though) and I think I am fine. Don't stress it right now.

 

[TheMagicCookie]

Sorry for hijacking your thread dude. Yes, you will be fine, my tremor is worse than that (not by too much though) and I think I am fine. Don't stress it right now.

Don't want to rain on your parade or crush any of your preconceived notions, jef...but how do you know that it will be "fine"? This isn't even meant to attack you in any way, but you really don't have any experience or knowledge to base your theory on. I could say that I think I would be fine performing a CABG tomorrow morning because I've seen it done at work, but I have no real experience or prior knowledge to do it without killing the patient. Just sayin.

P.S are you seriously proud to be "the definition of a gunner"? that's a little disturbing...

ok, I've said my peace lol

 

[236116]

Sorry for hijacking your thread dude. Yes, you will be fine

P.S are you seriously proud to be "the definition of a gunner"? that's a little disturbing..

Kids....

Jeff, I'm going to have to agree with Cookie. You do not want to be that guy, especially at this stage. I don't know what you're like in real life, but it doesn't go over well. [name removed] and [name removed] are examples of how not to act, even on something as mostly inconsequential as an internet forum. (That said, the people in the other forums are your future adcoms, colleagues, bosses, etc.)

Take a deep breath, step back, and take another look at your path. Getting your knickers in a twist every day for something you won't be experiencing for another twenty years is only going to lead to an early death.

/we now return to your regularly scheduled jurassicpark.