Assessment of occupational eye lens exposure during image-guided orthopedic procedures

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the level of exposure of eye lenses in orthopedic surgeons performing routine clinical work and to determine future monitoring practice, as Serbian radiation protection law still employs higher limits. The dose was measured monthly in terms of H (0.03) with three different dosimeters placed on a 3-D-printed headband, worn on a forehead by three orthopedic surgeons, during all procedures involving fluoroscopy. The mean dose for the left and right eye was 271 ± 109 μSv and 269 ± 101 μSv, respectively, with no significant difference (p-value 0.977) between the left and right eye observed. Considering the highest recorded monthly value, the annual dose is expected to be 4.85 mSv without protective items, well below the new ICRP limit of 20 mSv. There was no observed correlation between eye lens dose and both fluoroscopy time and exposure parameters. Considering the cumulative impact of dose and the evidence pointing to an elevated incidence of lenticular opacities for cumulative doses exceeding 10 mSv, it is advisable to institute ongoing monitoring, especially when new surgeons incorporate image-guided procedures or when novel techniques are introduced into surgical practice.

Keywords

• eye lens dose
• orthopedic surgery
• fluoroscopy
• radiation protection
• individual monitoring