Intraoperative Radiation Exposure During Revision Total Ankle Replacement

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Medical Imaging
• Radiation Safety

Background:

• Intraoperative C-arm fluoroscopy is standard for primary total ankle replacement.
• Significant radiation exposure is associated with primary procedures.
• Radiation exposure during revision total ankle replacement is not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the radiation exposure during revision total ankle replacement surgery.
• To identify factors influencing radiation exposure in these procedures.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 41 revision total ankle replacement cases.
• Categorization of revisions into partial and complete conversions.
• Analysis of radiation exposure (mGy) and C-arm time.

Main Results:

• Mean radiation exposure was 3.49 ± 2.21 mGy.
• Complete conversions, particularly Agility to INBONE II, resulted in the highest radiation exposure.
• Implant selection and revision type significantly impacted radiation dose.

Conclusions:

• Revision total ankle replacement involves significant radiation exposure.
• Complete revision conversions lead to greater radiation exposure than partial revisions.
• Minimizing intraoperative complications and selecting less radiation-intensive revision systems are crucial for patient and staff safety.