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EVALUATION OF THYROID SHIELDS FOR REDUCTION OF RADIATION EXPOSURE TO ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEONS
Author(s) -
Dewey Peter,
Incoll Ian
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.111
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 0004-8682
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1998.tb04832.x
Subject(s) - medicine , radiation exposure , thyroid , thyroid function , thyroid cancer , population , shields , thyroid carcinoma , incidence (geometry) , surgery , general surgery , shield , nuclear medicine , environmental health , petrology , geology , physics , optics
Background :A perceived increase in the incidence of thyroid carcinoma in orthopaedic surgeons prompted an assessment of the use and value of thyroid shields in the operating theatre. Methods : he radiation exposure to the thyroid area of 19 orthopaedic trainees was measured over a 3‐month period, while they were operating. The results were correlated with thyroid function tests and the number of emergency operative cases performed. Results : Thirteen trainees received radiation exposure within the guidelines set for the general population. Two trainees received exposure above this but within the guidelines set for occupational exposure. A thyroid shield reduced radiation exposure of the neck in one trainee by a factor of 13. The availability and usage of thyroid shields was low: only seven out of 13 trainees used shields. Conclusions : A thyroid shield should be worn by orthopaedic surgeons if radiation is used during the operative procedure.