Intraoperative Radiation Exposure During Hip Arthroscopy.

BACKGROUND: The frequency of hip arthroscopy for the treatment of acute and chronic chondrolabral pathology and femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has increased exponentially over the past decade. While surgeon and patient radiation exposure has been well documented in other areas of the orthopaedic literature, little is known about the procedure-specific and cumulative doses affecting the hip arthroscopist.

PURPOSE: To determine the mean annual radiation exposure to the hip arthroscopist and the mean surgeon exposure per case.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS: A total of 210 consecutive hip arthroscopies performed in 209 patients by a single surgeon at a single ambulatory surgical center in a cohort consisting of approximately 50% bony (cam and pincer) pathology were prospectively reviewed, documenting the specific procedures performed in each case and the readings from a radiation dosimeter worn by the surgeon during positioning and while performing the procedures. Radiation readings for deep dose-equivalent (DDE), lens dose-equivalent (LDE), and shallow dose-equivalent (SDE) were measured. These readings were compared with the annual radiation dose limit recommendations established by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).

RESULTS: The total radiation doses for the operative surgeon during all 210 cases were 183 mrem (1.83 mSv) DDE, 183 mrem (1.83 mSv) LDE, and 176 mrem (1.76 mSv) SDE. The mean exposure per case was 0.871 mrem (0.00871 mSv) DDE, 0.871 mrem (0.00871 mSv) LDE, and 0.838 mrem (0.00838 mSv) SDE. The operative surgeon's mean annual exposure, performing 70 hip arthroscopies per year with 55% involving bony work, was 61.0 mrem (0.610 mSv) DDE, 61.0 mrem (0.610 mSv) LDE, and 58.7 mrem (0.587 mSv) SDE. These results are well below the ICRP annual limits of 50,000 mrem (500 mSv) DDE, 2000 mrem (20 mSv) LDE, and 50,000 mrem (500 mSv) SDE.

CONCLUSION: For an experienced hip arthroscopist utilizing fluoroscopy during setup and bony resection, the annual and per-patient exposure to radiation remains well below the recommended ICRP limits.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Considering the increasing annual frequency of hip arthroscopies being performed, information regarding procedure-specific and cumulative doses of radiation exposure affecting the hip arthroscopist may provide valuable safety information for the orthopaedic community.