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Fluoroscopy use during surgery for trauma linked with small increased risk of future cancer
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Recently published results showed a small increased risk of future cancer development from radiation exposure among patients who underwent surgery using fluoroscopy for fractures of the pelvis or femur.
Researchers placed three to four dosimeters (InLight nanoDot, Landauer) on 108 patients (36% women) who underwent surgery using fluoroscopy for acetabulum, pelvic or femur fractures to measure the total dose of radiation at specified sites for each procedure and patient position. Researchers recorded demographics, operative records and average X-ray emission energy, and calculated effective dose, specific organ doses and lifetime cancer incidence for a 30-year-old patient.
Researchers noted 27 acetabular fractures, 30 intertrochanteric femur fractures, 26 femoral shaft injuries and 25 pelvic ring injuries. Results showed the highest effective dose of radiation was in patients with pelvic ring injuries at approximately 0.91 mSv. After pelvic ring insertion, women had an average lifetime increase in cancer incidence for any cancer type of 0.0097%, while men had an average lifetime increase in cancer incidence of 0.0062%. Pelvic surgery had the greatest mean single-organ dose to the ovaries and to the prostate, researchers found, which correlated to an increased ovarian cancer risk of 0.0013% and to an increased prostate cancer risk of 0.0024%.
“Fracture surgery to the pelvis and femur is exceptionally fluoroscopy-dependent; however, the radiation exposure incurred represents a relatively small increased risk of future cancer development in patients,” the researchers wrote. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: Beebe reports grant funding from the Orthopaedic Trauma Association. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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