Determination of Doses and Cancer Risk to Paediatric and Young Adult Patients Undergoing Plain Radiographic and Fluoroscopic Guided Surgical Procedures

Abstract

Fifty paediatric and young adult patients who underwent plain radiographic and fluoroscopic procedures in the operating theatres of a selected orthopaedic hospital were investigated. Radiation Dose was measured using single chip TLD (LiF) held at the skin surface at the beam entrance site for scoliotic, kyphotic and kyphoscoliotic patients undergoing Posterior Spinal Fusion (single stage), Posterior Spinal Fusion (two stage), Growing Rod and Revision Posterior Spinal Fusion as well as patients undergoing Intramedullary Nailing of the Femur and Osteotomy of the lower Extremity. The radiographic equipment were working at self-consistencies. The readings from the TLD, with patient data and other relevant information from the equipment console were used in Monte Carlo program software (PCMXC 2.0) to estimate organ and effective doses as well as assess cancer risk. Mean effective dose from Posterior Spinal Fusion (single stage), Posterior Spinal Fusion (two stage), Growing Rod, Revision Posterior Spinal Fusion, Nailing of the Femur and Osteotomy of the lower Extremity were found to be7.62 ± 0.84 mSv, 7.48 ± 1.0, 6.82 ± 0.99 mSv, 2.50 ± 0.27 mSv, 0.18 ± 0.09 mSv and 0.001 ± 0.6E4 mSv respectively. The ribs recorded the highest bony organ tissue whiles the breast recorded the highest soft tissue organ dose with Posterior Spinal Fusion (single stage) recording the highest of 25.55±2.81 mGy and 11.49±1.22 mGy. Comparison of paediatric and young adult effective dose showed a higher effective dose in paediatric. Risk of radiation exposure induced cancer death from any cancer were considered for all the procedures and growing rod recorded the highest with 0.0954 % for females and 0.0500% for males. Risk of lung cancer was prevalent in all surgical procedures considered for the study followed by other cancers. However risk of breast cancer was high in females and risk of colon cancer for males. Paediatric and young adult patients exposure records were recommended to be part of their medical records to aid in consistency of exposure factors and dose optimization especially in case of revision and second stage procedures.