Best Practice and Recommendations for Pregnant Orthopedic Surgeons Part II: Early Career and Practice

At a glance

Type of study

Narrative review

Who was studied

Orthopedic surgeons

Topics

Pregnancy and reproductive healthWomen in the fieldWorkforce and careersRegulation and policyMusculoskeletal injury and ergonomics

Summary based on

the abstract

What it found

• The review concludes that radiation and MMA exposure during orthopedic procedures stays below established safety thresholds when appropriate precautions are used.

• Delayed childbearing linked to training and career progression may contribute to higher infertility and obstetric complication rates among female orthopedic surgeons.

• Physical demands such as prolonged standing, heavy lifting and long hours may warrant workplace modifications during pregnancy.

• Federal laws provide frameworks for workplace accommodations during pregnancy.

• Postpartum support, equitable parental leave and lactation accommodations may improve surgeon well-being and return to practice.

Limits to keep in mind

Narrative review with recommendations; no systematic search method or quantitative data are reported in the abstract, and conclusions about radiation safety depend on precautions being used.

Related research summaries

• SCAI Multi-Society Position Statement on Occupational Health Hazards (2020, Guideline or consensus statement)
• Radiation Exposure, Training, and Safety in Cardiology (2024, Narrative review)
• ALARA+: Summit on Radiation and Orthopedic Risks in Fluoroscopic Laboratories: Endorsed by ACC, ACVP, ASE, HRS, SCAI, SIR, SNIS, SVIN, and SVS (2026, Guideline or consensus statement)
• ALARA+: Summit on Radiation and Orthopedic Risks in Fluoroscopic Laboratories (2026, Guideline or consensus statement)
• Occupational Pelvic and Chest-Level Radiation Exposure Among Interventional Echocardiographers During Percutaneous Structural Heart Interventions (2026, Dosimetry measurement study)