Occupational Ionizing Radiation-Induced Skin Injury Among Orthopedic Surgeons: A 5-Year Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Dermatology

Background:

• Occupational radiation exposure poses risks to healthcare professionals.
• Orthopaedic surgeons are particularly susceptible to radiation-induced skin injuries.
• The effectiveness of educational interventions in mitigating these risks requires evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a 5-year longitudinal educational campaign on orthopaedic surgeons' radiation exposure and skin health.
• To evaluate changes in radiation safety attitudes and practices.
• To determine if educational interventions can reduce the incidence of radiation-induced skin injuries.

Main Methods:

• A 5-year longitudinal study involving orthopaedic surgeons at Hirosaki University (2019-2024).
• Surveys collected self-reported weekly fluoroscopy (beam-on) time and dermatologist-graded hand skin findings.
• Educational campaigns focused on As Low As Reasonably Achievable principles and personal protective equipment were implemented from 2020-2023.

Main Results:

• Surgeon caution regarding radiation increased from 5.8% to 70.9%.
• Median weekly fluoroscopy time decreased from 9.5 to 8.0 minutes (p=0.045).
• Prevalence of radiation-induced skin injury declined from 34.9% to 25.6%.

Conclusions:

• Repeated radiation safety education was associated with improved surgeon attitudes, reduced self-reported fluoroscopy time, and better skin findings.
• The study suggests a link between educational activities, exposure, and skin health outcomes.
• Causality cannot be definitively established due to self-reported exposure and lack of a control group.