Left Handedness: Fair or a Fallacy. From Otorhinolaryngology Residency Training Perspective

Excerpt

In a right-handed world, approximately 11% of the world population is left-handed [1], more commonly referred to as “an unorganized minority” by themselves. Demographic data have proven that similar ratio exists in medical professionals too [2]. Left-handedness is considered as mere inconvenience by some but for the others it’s “sinister” from where it is derived historically being regarded as odd, cumbersome or unnatural and continues to represent uncleanliness in certain cultures. Although neurophysiological studies have proven that left-handers are more intellectual [3], artistic, musical and creative [4, 5] but they are more prone to unintentional injuries [6, 7], head trauma [8], motor vehicle accidents [9] and more susceptible in facing problems with dexterity. Surgical residency training in otorhinolaryngology given advances in endoscopic and microscopic techniques mostly caters to narrow field with distal instrumentation requiring immense dexterity [10]. With paucity of surgical literature regarding training, difficulties faced during learning and performance by left-handed residents, we intend to draw attention towards it and improvise the current operating scenario which is suited to the “unorganized minority”. …