Radiation Personal Protective Equipment (Rppe) in Orthopaedic Theatres: A National Stocktake

Introduction Adequate access to radiation personal protective equipment (RPPE) is crucial for surgical team safety, minimizing exposure to ionizing radiation during intraoperative fluoroscopy. The British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) recommends radiation protective gowns be wrap-around style with high axillary coverage. This study assessed RPPE stock levels across Welsh hospitals with Trauma & Orthopaedics (T&O) higher surgical trainees. Methods A nationwide stocktake was conducted in January 2025 across Welsh hospitals hosting T&O higher surgical trainees. Data were collected on the number of orthopaedic theatres, daily surgical lists, and available RPPE, including gown style, thickness, size distribution, and thyroid guard availability. Results Data from 11 hospitals showed orthopaedic theatres per hospital ranged from 1 to 6, with daily surgical lists between 1 and 6. RPPE stock levels varied widely: tabard (open-sided) gowns ranged from 12 to 35 per hospital, wrap-around gowns from 1 to 22, and thyroid guards from 2 to 22. Gown thickness and size availability were inconsistent, with shortages of small and medium sizes in some hospitals. One hospital had no access to wrap-around gowns, and another 4 had fewer than 5 available. Overall, only 29.4% of RPPE stock consisted of BOA-recommended wrap-around gowns. Conclusion There is significant variability in RPPE stock across Wales, with many hospitals lacking BOA-recommended protection. More than half of surveyed hospitals had limited access to wrap-around gowns and thyroid shields, potentially compromising occupational safety. Ensuring appropriate gown fit and standardizing RPPE provision across hospitals is essential to improve radiation safety for orthopaedic teams.