Evaluation of Radiation Exposure during Fluoroscopy Guided Orthopaedic Surgeries

Radiation dose to orthopedic surgeons does not usually reach the secure threshold during mini C-arm fluoroscopy guided surgeries. However, there are concerns about complications of chronic ionizing radiation, especially in radiology physicians and personnel. This study aimed to evaluate orthopedic surgeons’ radiation exposure, determine its relationship with duration of surgeries, duration of fluoroscopy use in these surgeries, and surgeons’ experience, determine the role of these factors in radiation exposure, and compare the results to standard thresholds.
Orthopedic surgeons, residents, and radiology personnel of Chamran Hospital underwent radiation dosimetry using TLD method for one workday. During surgeries, fluoroscopy was used. Besides, dosimeters were attached to five standard locations, namely chest, left hand, right hand, gonad, and thyroid.
The mean of accumulative radiation exposure to chest wall, left hand, right hand, gonad, and thyroid was 0.183, 0.716, 1.76, 0.616, and 1.69 mrem, respectively.
According to the results, radiation exposure was not beyond the standard threshold for any of the participants. In addition, no significant relationship was found between the surgeons’ experience and radiation exposure (p>0.05).