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Radiation exposure to the orthopaedic surgeon during periacetabular osteotomy

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to directly measure the radiation exposure to the orthopaedic surgeon and to measure dose points to the surgeon’s fingers, thyroid gland, and forehead during intraoperative fluoroscopy in periacetabular osteotomy (PAO). In a series of 23 consecutive periacetabular osteotomy procedures, exposure monitoring was carried out using thermo luminescent dosimeters. The effective dose received by the operating surgeon was 0.008 mSv per operation which adds up to a yearly dose of 0.64 mSv from PAO. The median point equivalent dose (mSv) exposure under PAO was 0.009 for the forehead and thyroid gland, 0.045 for the right index finger, and 0.039 for the left index finger. The effective estimated yearly dose received by the operating surgeon was very low. Wearing a lead collar reduces radiation exposure to the thyroid gland while the lead gloves did not protect the surgeon’s fingers.

Résumé

L’objectif de cette étude est de mesurer l’exposition aux rayons X au niveau des mains et de la thyroïde des chirurgiens orthopédistes après utilisation de l’amplificateur de brillance au cours d’une ostéotomie périacétabulaire. Matériel et méthode: une série de 23 ostéotomies pericétabulaires a été réalisée en utilisant l’ampli. Résultat: la dose effective reçue par le chirurgien était de 0,008 mSv par intervention et doit s’additionner avec la dose de 0,64 mSv du fait de l’ostéotomie péri acétabulaire. La dose moyenne d’exposition était de 0,009 pour le tronc et la glande thyroïde, de 0,045 pour l’index droit et de 0,039 pour l’index gauche. En conclusion: les doses reçues par le chirurgien sont très basses. Le port d’un collier de protection permet de diminuer les radiations au niveau de la thyroïde et l’utilisation de gants de plomb ne permet pas de protéger les mains des chirurgiens.

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Acknowledgements

We thank physicist Jolanta Hansen at the Department of Medical Physics, Aarhus University Hospital for helpful advice in undertaking this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital of Aarhus, Tage-Hansens Gade 2, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Inger Mechlenburg, Henrik Daugaard & Kjeld Søballe

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  1. Inger Mechlenburg
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  2. Henrik Daugaard
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  3. Kjeld Søballe
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Correspondence to Inger Mechlenburg.

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Mechlenburg, I., Daugaard, H. & Søballe, K. Radiation exposure to the orthopaedic surgeon during periacetabular osteotomy. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 33, 1747–1751 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-008-0681-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-008-0681-1

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