Radiation exposure to the surgeon during femoral interlocking nailing under fluoroscopic imaging

Femoral interlocking nailing requires fluoroscopic assistance for insertion of the nail and distal screws. In this study, scattered radiation to the eye and hand of the operating surgeon was measured during the procedure. Thermo-luminescent dosimeter (TLD) was used to quantify the dose received by the surgeon. The mean radiation exposure time during the procedure was 3.89 minutes. The mean scattered radiation doses to the hand and eye were 0.27 mSv and 0.09 mSv per procedure respectively. These very low doses have made a surgeon very unlikely to receive more than the recommended annual dose limit set by the National Council on Radiological Protection.