How do surgeons develop steady hands outside of the OR?

It is a misconception that surgeons need abnormally steady hands. Many good surgeons have a more than normal tremor. It does not really matter. However, it is a good idea to avoid coffee just before performing microvascular surgery. read more

Surgeons know techniques to make their hands steady. They rest their hands on the surface of the patient or on stacks of surgical towels. They are using the fine motor control (which we all have) in the hands rather than the large muscles that control the arms. read more

In first time surgery internees have shaky hands but that soon disappears. I know a colleague who was a maxillio-facial surgeon who had shaky hands. I have watched him operate. His hands did not shake when he was actually operating. In his time he was the top man in his field in Chennai. read more

If you're a total klutz with your hands, surgery would be tough for you. If your hands shake when you're nervous, your first couple of years in surgery training will probably be tough: consider beta blockers for yourself pre-op. But eventually you'll stop being so nervous, so it could work. read more