Researchers measured the radiation exposure to the surgeon by utilizing digital dosimeters placed at the level of thyroid/eye, chest and dominant forearm. The average radiation exposure to the surgeon during open cases was 0.16±0.22 mR (thyroid/eye), 0.21±0.23 mR (chest) and 0.20±0.14 mR (hand).
For the minimally invasive cases, surgeons were exposed to 1.72±1.52 mR (thyroid/eye), 3.08±2.93 (chest) and 4.45±3.75 (hand). Additionally, surgeons standing in an adjacent substerile room during the open cases were exposed to 0.2 mR per case.
A surgeon can perform 1,623 minimally invasive microdiscectomies to exceed the exposure limit for whole-body radiation, 8,720 cases for the lens of the eye and 11,235 cases for the hand.
Read the abstract for “Radiation Exposure to the Surgeon During Open Lumbar Microdiscectomy and Minimally Invasive Microdiscectomy: A prospective, Controlled Trial.”
Read other coverage on spine surgery studies:
– Patients Undergoing Surgery for Lower Back Pain, Leg Pain Improve More Than Nonoperative Treatment
– Study: Spine Surgeons Often Fail to Identify Psychological Distress in Patients
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