Radiation Exposure Dose of a Surgeon Performing Lateral Access Spine Surgeries such as Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion and Lateral Corpectomy and Replacement

Akira Shinohara, Shigeru Soshi, Yoshiharu Nakajima and Keishi Marumo

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Japan

^*Correspondance to: Akira Shinohara 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.2552

Abstract

Minimally invasive spinal fusion techniques such as lateral access spine surgeries, including lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LIF) and Lateral Corpectomy and Replacement (LCR), are widely recognized for their usefulness and are used extensively. However, since these surgeries involve X-ray fluoroscopy, radiation exposure to healthcare providers must be investigated. In this study, the intraoperative exposure dose was measured at four sites on the surgeon’s body in 50 lateral access spine surgeries (35 LIF, 15 LCR) to calculate the effective dose. Four sites were the area outside the neck protector (neck-unprotected), the area within the chest protector (chest-protected), the area outside the ventral waist protector (ventral waist-unprotected), and the area within the ventral waist protector (ventral waist-protected). The exposure dose was significantly greater at the ventral waist-unprotected area than at the other three sites (p<0.05), and significantly greater at the ventral waist-protected area than the neck-unprotected and chest-protected areas (p<0.05). There was a significant correlation between effective dose and patient body mass index. The effective dose for the surgeon performing lateral access spine surgeries was fully within the safety standards specified in the International Commission on Radiological Protection guidelines. However, the exposure dose at the surgeon’s ventral waist area was high, and the surgeon’s effective dose was correlated with patient obesity, indicating the need for appropriate measures to reduce radiation exposure in accordance with the exposure site and individual patients.

Keywords

Lateral lumbar interbody fusion; Lateral corpectomy and replacement; Lateral Access Spine

Cite the article

Shinohara A, Soshi S, Nakajima Y, Marumo K. Radiation Exposure Dose of a Surgeon Performing Lateral Access Spine Surgeries such as Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion and Lateral Corpectomy and Replacement. Clin Surg. 2019; 4: 2552..