Key result
Scattered radiation dose received by theatre staff was consistently low beyond two metres from the source, but significant within the operating distance for both lateral and PA projections.
Why the study?
What is the scattered radiation dose received by theatre staff during hip fracture fixation, and how does it vary with distance?
Observational
What is the scattered radiation dose received by theatre staff during hip fracture fixation, and how does it vary with distance?
Scattered radiation during hip fracture fixation is significant within 2 meters of the source, suggesting lead aprons and thyroid shields are necessary within this zone but may be unnecessary beyond it.
This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.
We measured the scattered radiation received by theatre staff, using high-sensitivity electronic personal dosimeters, during fixation of extracapsular fractures of the neck of the femur by dynamic hip screw. The dose received was correlated with that received by the patient, and the distance from the source of radiation. A scintillation detector and a water-filled model were used to define a map of the dose rate of scattered radiation in a standard operating theatre during surgery. Beyond two metres from the source of radiation, the scattered dose received was consistently low, while within the operating distance that received by staff was significant for both lateral and posteroanterior (PA) projections. The routine use of lead aprons outside the 2 m zone may be unnecessary. Within that zone it is recommended that lead aprons be worn and that thyroid shields are available for the surgeon and nursing assistants.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Maintaining >2 m from source may limit staff exposure during DHS fixation; level 5 data leaves open prospective shielding protocols.
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Alonso et al. (2001) conducted an observational in Extracapsular fractures of the neck of the femur. Scattered radiation vs. Distance from the source of radiation (>2m vs <2m) was evaluated on Scattered radiation dose received by theatre staff. Scattered radiation dose received by theatre staff was consistently low beyond two metres from the source, but significant within the operating distance for both lateral and PA projections.
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