The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 75, Issue 3 326-330, Copyright © 1993 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Exposure of the orthopaedic surgeon to radiation
R Sanders, KJ Koval, T DiPasquale, G Schmelling, S Stenzler and E Ross
Orthopaedic Trauma Service, Tampa General Hospital, Florida 33601.
A prospective study of sixty-five orthopaedic procedures performed with
fluoroscopic assistance was undertaken to determine the risk to the primary
orthopaedic surgeon with regard to radiation. Radiation was monitored with
the use of a universal film badge placed outside the collar of a lead
apron, and a gas-sterilized thermoluminescent dosimeter ring worn on each
hand. The rings were changed with every operation, but the same film badge
was transferred from surgeon to surgeon. The hand dominance of the surgeon,
the duration of the operative procedure, the type of operation, and the
total time that fluoroscopy had been used were noted. The study was
conducted during twenty-one intramedullary nailing procedures (thirteen
involving distal locking), forty open reductions with internal fixation
(plates and screws), and four external-fixation procedures. All of the
badges and rings were submitted for a report regarding radiation exposure.
No relationship was found between a ring with a positive reading for
exposure to radiation and the duration of the operation. Similarly, there
was no correlation between a positive reading and the surgeon's hand
dominance. The mean duration of the fluoroscopy was 2.3 minutes for the
group for which the rings did not show a positive reading and 4.7 minutes
for the group for which the rings did show a positive reading. This was a
significant difference (p < 0.0001). There was no positive reading for
exposure to radiation from any ring that had been worn during a procedure
in which the fluoroscope had been used for less than 1.7 minutes.(ABSTRACT
TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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