The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 65, Issue 1 1-4, Copyright © 1983 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Radiation exposure and associated risks to operating-room personnel during use of fluoroscopic guidance for selected orthopaedic surgical procedures
ME Miller, ML Davis, CR MacClean, JG Davis, BL Smith and JR Humphries
Because of the increased use of fluoroscopic guidance techniques in certain
orthopaedic surgical procedures, surgeons and other operating-room
personnel who are involved in these procedures are voicing growing concern
over possible associated radiation health hazards. Using thin-layer lithium
fluoride chips for thermoluminescence dosimetry, we directly measured the
radiation exposure encountered by the primary surgeon during seven
operative procedures that were done utilizing fluoroscopic guidance
techniques. Dosimetry studies were also carried out using a
tissue-equivalent phantom model to determine the directions of maximum
scatter radiation. These studies indicated that the standard protective
apron that is commonly worn during the use of fluoroscopy provides adequate
protection to most of the body; however, the surgeon is exposed to
significant levels of scatter radiation to the head, neck, and hands,
Dosimetry studies showed that positioning the fluoroscopic beam vertically
to the fracture site of the supine patient, with the x-ray source posterior
to the patient, provided the lowest levels of scatter radiation to the
surgeon in the normal working position.
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