Editor—Concerns about patients' exposure to radiation at the hands of their doctors should extend to health professionals.1 Orthopaedic theatre staff may be unaware of the following simple facts:
Lead gowns should be 0.35 mm thick
Surgeons' exposure is reduced by the inverted C-arm (image intensifier) technique2
Any distance < 90 cm from the C-arm is unsafe3
The thyroid gland should be protected at all times4
Hands are at high risk from radiation and orthopaedic surgeons controlling the image intensifier can reduce hand exposure.5
In addition to the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 (www.doh.gov.uk/irmer.htm), all orthopaedic theatre staff should be monitored for central and peripheral exposure to radiation. Lead gowns should be regularly checked for cracks and thickness, and the image intensifier for radiation scattering. A study of all radiation related head and neck and upper limb malignancies would, no doubt, be of great interest to the British Orthopaedic Association.
Competing interests: None declared.
References
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