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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Rev Bras Ortop (Sao Paulo) 2022; 57(04): 546-551
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1748968
Artigo Original
Trauma

Perception of Orthopedics Surgeons about the Risks of Radiation Exposure in Fluoroscopy[*]

Article in several languages: português | English
Helia Bittar Barbosa 
Escola Politécnica, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil
,
Ana Maria Marques da Silva 
Escola Politécnica, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil
2   Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil
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Source of Funding This study received no financial support from public, commercial, or non-profit sources.
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Abstract

Objective The present study aims to understand the perceptions of orthopedists and traumatologists regarding the risk of exposure to ionizing radiation in fluoroscopy procedures.

Methods An objective, structured, self-administered questionnaire with sociodemographic, professional, and occupational variables was developed, available through an invitation sent to orthopedist physicians whose contacts were made publicly available.

Results A total of 141 questionnaires were answered and analyzed. Most respondents (99%) use fluoroscopy in their surgeries, and only 34.8% of the participants feel safe with the use of the equipment. It was observed that the knowledge about ionizing radiation is inadequate, because 22.6% of the participants are unaware of the type of radiation emitted in fluoroscopy and its biological effects. In addition, 52% of the participants did not know or do not understand the principles of radiological protection and their relationship with surgical practices.

Conclusion We concluded that the radiological protection of most orthopedists in surgical procedures is inadequate, and initial and continued training programs of professionals are necessary, bringing health benefits to orthopedists and their patients.

Keywords

radiation, ionizing - X-rays - risk assessment - radiation exposure - orthopedic - surveys and questionnaires

* Work developed at the Escola Politécnica, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil


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Publication History

Received: 09 May 2021

Accepted: 31 August 2021

Article published online:
14 July 2022

© 2022. Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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