Jove
Visualize
Contact Us

Related Experiment Videos

Occupational radiation exposure to the surgeon.

Gordon Singer1

  • 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kaiser Permanente, Denver, CO 80205, USA.

The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
|February 17, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Intraoperative fluoroscopy significantly increases surgeon radiation exposure, particularly to the hands. Implementing protective measures like shielding and reducing exposure time can mitigate these risks.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Robot-assisted vertebral body augmentation: a radiation reduction tool.

Spine·2013
Same author

Managing my life as a peer support worker.

Psychiatric rehabilitation journal·2011
Same author

Exposure from the large C-arm versus the mini C-arm using hand/wrist and elbow phantoms.

The Journal of hand surgery·2011
Same author

Radiation exposure in hand surgery.

The Journal of hand surgery·2005
Same author

Radiation exposure to the hands from mini C-arm fluoroscopy.

The Journal of hand surgery·2005
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Area of Science:

  • Medical Physics
  • Surgical Safety
  • Radiation Oncology

Background:

  • Intraoperative fluoroscopy use is increasing, leading to significant surgeon radiation exposure.
  • Public and patient radiation doses from diagnostic imaging are well-documented, but surgeon exposure requires specific attention.
  • Surgeons face risks from primary beams and scatter radiation, especially to the hands.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the substantial radiation exposure risks to surgeons during intraoperative fluoroscopy.
  • To compare occupational radiation doses with established safety limits.
  • To outline strategies for minimizing surgeon radiation exposure.

Main Methods:

  • Review of radiation exposure data from intraoperative fluoroscopy (C-arm and mini C-arm).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Comparison of estimated surgeon exposure to recommended yearly radiation limits for torso and hands.
  • Identification and compilation of methods to reduce radiation exposure.
  • Main Results:

    • C-arm devices deliver high radiation doses (1,200–4,000 mrem/min) to patients.
    • Surgeon hand exposure can exceed previously estimated levels, even with mini C-arms.
    • Estimated surgeon exposure can approach or exceed recommended yearly limits if not managed.

    Conclusions:

    • Surgeons are at significant risk of radiation exposure during procedures using intraoperative fluoroscopy.
    • Effective radiation protection strategies are crucial for surgeon safety.
    • Implementing measures such as increased distance, shielding, and optimized C-arm use can reduce exposure.