Left-Handedness — A Handicap for Training in Surgery?

• Published in: Journal of surgical education 2010-07, Vol.67 (4), p.233-236
• Main Authors: Tchantchaleishvili, Vakhtang, MD, Myers, Patrick O., MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Functional Laterality; General Surgery - education; Humans; laterality; left-handedness; Mentors; Patient Care; Practice Based Learning and Improvement; Professionalism; residency; Surgery; surgical education; Surgical Instruments; Surgical Procedures, Operative - education
• ISSN: 1931-7204; 1878-7452
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2010.06.001

Background Left-handedness was historically considered a disability and a social stigma, and teachers would make efforts to suppress it in their students. Little data are available on the impact of left-handedness on surgical training. This report reviews available data on this subject. Methods We did systematic electronic and manual literature searches using a predetermined strategy independently by 2 investigators, 1 left- and 1 right-handed, to identify reports on surgical training and left-handedness. Results The review revealed 19 studies on the subject of left-handedness and surgical training. Data were heterogeneous and based mostly on surveys. Left-handedness produced anxiety in residents and their trainers. There was a lack of mentoring on laterality. Surgical instruments, both conventional and laparoscopic, are not adapted to left-handed use and require ambilaterality training from the resident. There is significant pressure to change hand laterality during training. However, left-handedness might present an advantage in operations involving situs inversus or left lower limb operations. Conclusions Left-handedness is a challenge both for the trainee and the trainer in surgery. Early laterality-related mentoring in medical school and during surgical residency with provision of left-handed instruments might reduce the inconveniences of left-handed surgeons learning.