Radiation exposure during direct versus indirect image acquisition during fluoroscopy-controlled internal fixation of a hip fracture: Results of a randomized controlled trial

At a glance

Type of study

Original research, Randomized trial

Who was studied

Orthopedic surgeons, Radiologic technologists, Patients

Size

n = 96 patients

Topics

Dose reduction techniquesPatient dose

Summary based on

the abstract

What it found

• No significant unadjusted differences between direct surgeon-controlled and indirect technician-operated image acquisition in radiation time, dose or DAP.

• After adjustment for confounders, radiation time was shorter with indirect technician-operated acquisition.

  Key figures: 18.50 s (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.19; 34.81, p = 0.027)

• The adjusted advantage for indirect acquisition also held in the pertrochanteric fracture subgroup, but radiation dose and DAP did not differ significantly.

Limits to keep in mind

Single trial of 96 patients, with outcomes based on fluoroscopy time and patient dose metrics rather than measured staff dose. The significant difference appeared only after confounder adjustment, and the country was not reported in the abstract.

Related research summaries

• AST Standards for Ionizing Radiation Exposure (Guideline or consensus statement)
• ICRP Draft - Radiological Protection in Fluoroscopically Guided Procedures (Guideline or consensus statement)
• Radiation exposure to operating room personnel and patients during endovascular procedures (2013, Dosimetry measurement study)
• Radiation Exposure To Operating Room Personnel And Patients During Endovascular Procedures (2013, Dosimetry measurement study)
• Comparative Prospective Study Reporting Intraoperative Parameters, Pedicle Screw Perforation, and Radiation Exposure in Navigation-Guided versus Non-navigated Fluoroscopy-Assisted Minimal Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (2018, Prospective cohort study)